BY SPORTSCAST WRITER
HARARE – Not a lot of newcomers to international rugby wake up in the morning thinking they’ll one day amass close to 25 caps for their country.
Reaching a half-century therefore marks a “surreal” occasion for Hilton Mudariki and Simba Mandioma, whose modest ambitions in the formative days would have left them feeling so proud to bow out with just a couple of caps in the famous green-and-white hoops.
The two Sables seasoned campaigners, both 32, made their 50th appearances for Zimbabwe in the closely-fought 27-22 win away to South Korea on Saturday on the last leg of the Sables’ end-of-year tour.
“It’s a huge honour and a privilege, you know, to have 50 caps for my country,” Sables captain Mudariki told SportsCast on Monday.
“I dreamt of just playing one game, so to get to 50 is extremely amazing. It was a very special day for me, and to share it with a special team was absolutely amazing.”
South Korea players join in congratulating Hilton Mudariki and Simba Mandioma on their landmark achievements.
Experienced scrumhalf Mudariki has a shared sentiment with teammate Mandioma, who on Saturday also ran out for the 50th time, since both made their Zimbabwe debuts 11 years ago.
“Getting 50 caps was never the plan,” said hooker Mandioma. “I just wanted to be the best in my position after having learnt so much from those that came before me like Prayer Chitenderu, Keith Murray and Royal Mwale. I’m just honoured to be part of the Sables family because that’s what it is, it’s a family. I hope I have inspired young boys and girls to believe that it’s possible to have a long international career if you are willing to learn every day and staying consistent at your craft.”
Over a decade and 50 caps later – now an elder statesman in the Zimbabwe squad – Mandioma still pinches himself when he looks backs.
“Honestly, it still feels surreal,” he said. “If feels like yesterday when I was putting on the jersey for the first time. I thank my family for the constant love and support throughout my journey. It wouldn’t have been possible without them.”
Since his maiden appearance in 2013, Mandioma has been an ever-present feature in the middle of Zimbabwe’s front row, as conspicuous in the line-up as his steely physique and trademark flowing dreadlocks.
And he has the uttermost respect of the skipper.
“It was awesome to reach the milestone with Simba, we’ve been together for 11 years in the Sables set-up,” remarked Mudariki.
“We’ve been through the ups and downs together. He’s a great mate, he deserves that. He has been a great servant of Zimbabwe rugby and the Sables. So I couldn’t be happier for Simba and it’s a huge honour for me to share this special day with him.”
Mudariki recollects his own journey, having made his debut in a losing cause to arch-rivals Namibia in 2013.
“My first cap was against Namibia in Windhoek in 2013, coach (Brendan) Dawson was the coach at the time, Danny Hondo was the captain,” he said.
“It was an amazing feeling to run out for my country for the very first time at senior level. Obviously not the result we wanted that day, but for me to get my first cap was absolutely amazing. I thoroughly enjoyed that day. Now it’s a huge privilege to captain the Sables, and I’m just really blessed to have a leadership group that makes things much easier. I think I can turn to them, lean on them, in terms of running the team and making sure that everything is run the way we want it to be. I believe in shared leadership. We have fantastic leadership within our team which makes it super easy. But ja, it’s a real honour and privilege to captain my country.”
African champions Zimbabwe, who lifted the continental trophy in July in Uganda, are on a spirited quest to end their long World Cup absence. The Sables were the only African team in the first two editions of the rugby World Cup, in 1987 and 1991. But they have not qualified again.
The year-end tour was part of preparations for next year’s final World Cup qualifiers. The tour started with a thumping 62-22 win over the United Arab Emirates in Dubai on 5 November.
Beating a courageous Korean team on Saturday means a 100 percent record for the Sables in five Tests this year, but skipper Mudariki acknowledges that the fast-improving Asians gave his side a good run for their money.
“I think it was a great game,” said Mudariki. “Obviously it was different conditions, wet conditions, conditions that we don’t usually play in. So for the guys to get a feel of that was really good. It was a proper Test match, and the South Koreans are a quality side with quality players all over the field. I said this in the captains’ press conference before that they have threats all over the field and they showed what a classy side they are. So for us to grind it out, dig deep, was very special. It shows the character that is in the team. The guys have a willingness to fight to the very end and that is exactly what we want. That is what Test match is. We’ve seen other Test matches in the past, teams taking matches by one, two points. It’s just the character within the team that came out to push through right to the end.”
