BY SPORTSCAST WRITER
KAMPALA – Gert Smal, the former Springboks assistant coach currently working with Zimbabwe’s team as a consultant, has lavished praise on Sables talisman Tapiwa Mafura, saying the backline wizard’s exposure to different set-ups has made him an exceptional player.
The 28-year-old fullback set the field ablaze in a man-of-the-match performance on Wednesday as Zimbabwe outshone Namibia 32-10 to reach the Rugby Africa Cup final and end a 23-year losing streak against their greatest rivals.
Outstanding throughout the match, the highlights for Mafura were scoring a try and executing a cheeky dummy to send centre Brandon Mudzekenyedzi on his way to complete a brace of tries.
Harare-born Mafura – who was raised in South Africa – has won the Currie Cup with two different unions and currently turns up for Johannesburg-based Lions.
This experience in different environments, according to 62-year-old South African Smal, has made Mafura a special player.
“Look, what he has had is a lot of exposure in different teams, different cultures,” Smal told SportsCast on Wednesday.
“He even speaks Afrikaans. If you go into a system, you must fit into it, fit into people, not wanting the system to fit into you. That way, it makes you a better, richer individual.”
Smal remarked that Zimbabwe will continue to improve if more players play professionally in the South African system, and he has pledged to assist in securing deals.
“There are three players I can think of now, I don’t want to mention their names,” he said. “We can try organise something, say in Western Province, where I live. It’s about creating opportunities. My dad wasn’t rich, he was just a railway worker. I got opportunities through the sport, and others deserve that too.”
While celebrating the historic win on Wednesday, Smal conceded that Namibia would have been tougher opposition had they been at full strength.
“I think one has to be realistic, they didn’t have some of their players,” said Smal. “When they get some of their top players they will be a better side. But we can also get our good players from outside. It will be a fair contest. Right now I’d say we are 60 to 70 percent of where we should be as Zim.”
Smal called on for more financial support for the Sables so that the team spends more time together ahead of important games.
“You can’t bond properly when guys are coming in dribs and drabs, if we can’t camp,” he said. “But it’s all about money, and we need help in that regard.”
