Senior Sports Reporter
DUIKERS, the Matabeleland Under-13 representative rugby team are hard at work ahead of the interprovincial Owen Davies Trophy that is set for Saint John’s Preparatory School in Harare at the end of the month. Chosen at trials conducted at Petra Primary School early last month, the youngsters are holding training sessions at the same institution every Monday and Wednesday under coaches Trevor Chirwa of Petra and Simbarashe Gonese of Victoria Falls.
Twenty players have been shortlisted for the trip to Harare. The two- day tournament will start on July 29.
Petra have the highest number of players in the Duikers squad with eight, Victoria Falls contributed six, Whitestone have four, Masiyephambili and Entabeni chipped in with one each.
Exciting players include flyhalf Harry Streak, the son of former Zimbabwe national cricket team captain who represented the country at junior level in rugby and wing Vuyani Ncube, the son of ex-Umthunywa editor Bhekinkosi Ncube. Scrumhalf Mkhokheli Moyo of Ntabeni in Entumbane is the only player picked from a western suburb school.
A friendly match was organised yesterday for them in Victoria Falls against a select side from Maun in Botswana as the coaches try to gauge their team’s strength. Team manager Trevor Chapenga said they were trying to put together another practice match against Falcon College Under-14s a few days before the team leaves for Harare.
At last year’s Owen Davies staged at Lilfordia in Harare, the Duikers took third spot with victory over Harare East in a bronze medal playoff. Harare North were winners of the tournament with victory over Easterns in the final.
Team
Mat Duikers: Travis Brett, Ishe Muvungani, Ethan Ferguson, Harry Streak, Rukudzo Mariwa, Nyasha Maidza, Saxon Pettican, Tamirira Masango ( all Petra), Devon Grover, Alex van Wyk, Luke Pritchard, Victor Suarombe, Courtney du Preez, Daniel Turner (all Victoria Falls), Sonny Brebner, Tinaye Mukanya, Sean Kelly, Cody Grant (all Whitestone), Vuyani Ncube (Masiyephambili), Kholwani Moyo (Entabeni)
Coaches: Trevor Chirwa (Petra), Simbarashe Gonese (Victoria Falls)
Team manager: Trevor Chapenga (Petra)