BY SPORTSCAST WRITER
HARARE – Former Springbok Tonderai Chavhanga says the presence of two Zimbabwe internationals in last weekend’s Currie Cup final is “testament” to the level of talent that the country has.
Sharks beat Lions 16-14 in a closely-fought final of South Africa’s premier domestic competition at Johannesburg’s Ellis Park last Saturday.
25-year-old Zimbabwe loose-forward Tinotenda Mavesere was an unused substitute for Durban side Sharks, who denied his Sables teammate Tapiwa Mafura a hat-trick of Currie Cup titles.
Mavesere was however in top form during the season – as was the 28-year-old Mafura – who plays at fullback and on the wing.
“Their performances are testament to the incredible depth of talent Zimbabwe possesses,” Chavhanga told SportsCast this week.
Commonly known by his middle name Blithe back home in Zimbabwe, Mavesere made his Test debut barely out of his teens in 2019, when Chavhanga was the Sables’ assistant coach.
“Although Blithe didn’t feature on the field on Saturday, his contributions throughout the season were instrumental in getting the Sharks to the final and ultimately winning it. His star is definitely on the rise, and I have no doubt he will continue to develop at a strong union like the Sharks, where the team will bring out the best in him. And even if he eventually leaves, I’m confident he’ll thrive wherever he goes.”
As for Mafura, Lions’ heart-breaking defeat on Saturday meant the Zimbabwe talisman missed out on three successive Currie Cup titles with three different teams.
“Mafura is such an exciting player, whether at fullback or wing,” said Chavhanga.
“He’s shown his talent consistently, from his days with the Pumas to the Cheetahs and now the Lions. His future looks incredibly bright, and it’s always a pleasure to watch him play. It’s a pity he couldn’t get the hat-trick on Saturday, but they came so close. I hope both players will continue to make themselves available for Zimbabwe, as they have so much to offer on the international stage. I’m really looking forward to seeing how both Blithe and Mafura continue to progress in their professional rugby careers.”
