Philemon Jambaya
ASSISTANT EDITOR
Harare Sports Club is buzzing with anticipation as the Zimbabwean under-20 rugby team, the Junior Sables, prepare for a clash that could etch their names in history.
This Sunday, they face off against Kenya in the final of the Rugby Africa Barthes Trophy, with a shot at becoming the first team to claim the title three years running.
The air crackles with a potent mix of youthful exuberance and steely determination. Coach Shaun de Souza’s squad is a vibrant tapestry of raw talent and seasoned experience, embodied by players like Edward Sigauke, who’s already tasted the high-octane world of senior sevens rugby with the Cheetahs. Sigauke’s experience is a golden thread woven into the team’s fabric, helping the younger players navigate the pressure cooker of a Barthes Trophy final.
“There’s no ‘big boy’ mentality here,” says Sigauke, his voice resonating with quiet leadership. “It’s all about teamwork, one goal – lifting that trophy.”
Their path to the final wasn’t a Sunday stroll through the park. The victory against Namibia, a regional powerhouse coached by the legendary Springboks mentor, Alistair Coetzee, was a defining moment. It instilled a surge of confidence that now courses through the veins of every Junior Sable.
“That win was massive,” coach de Souza beams. “We weren’t just facing a good team, we were up against a coaching giant. Beating them has given the boys a whole new level of belief. They’re ready to roar, come Sunday.”
This isn’t unfamiliar territory for either Zimbabwe or Kenya. This will be their third consecutive Barthes Trophy dance, with the last two finals played on Kenyan soil. This time, the passionate Harare crowd will be the team’s roaring twelfth man, pushing them towards a historic treble.
The organisers are promising a vibrant spectacle to complement the on-field fireworks. Kick-off is at 3pm, but expect a colourful pre-game extravaganza that will set the stage for a nail-biting final.
Will the Junior Sables rewrite the record books? Can they weather the Kenyan storm and claim an unprecedented third consecutive Barthes Trophy?
Harare waits with bated breath, ready to erupt in a symphony of cheers if their young heroes emerge.
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