NewsHawks 21 January 2022

NewsHawks Sport Page 51
Saying that, we were leading against them
Issue 64, 21 January 2022 ‘Being involved with the at halftime and were 10-10 after almost
Sables is a huge privilege’ an hour of play, which was a positive. Our
ENOCK MUCHINJO set-piece struggled under their power late
Piet Benade playing for Hamilton's, in the game and perhaps our conditioning
PIET Benade has certainly had to deal South Africa's oldest rugby club. let us down in the last 20 minutes, where
with a mixed bag of highs and lows in his they capitalised on a few soft moments.
rugby career. levels around Cape Town for slightly over ment bursting with young talent, some- player who can perform a job in numer- Those are areas or weaknesses that need
a decade now, at both schoolboy and club thing that delights him, given his coach- ous positions due to his wide-ranging to be stamped out should we get the op-
These range from being plucked from level. Along the way, he has held revered ing background.  skillset. Brandon Mudzekenyedzi (24) portunity to play them again in the Africa
Stellenbosch University as a 22-year-old positions in the rugby-mad Cape. He was another outstanding player in the two Cup semi-final (World Cup qualification
farm-boy from Zimbabwe and handed his was first-team coach at Rondebosch Boys “I think the potential of the group is Test matches, giving a glimpse of the skill competition). With a few potentially im-
Currie Cup debut for Western Province at High – one of South Africa’s best rug- what excites me the most,” says Benade. and power that saw him selected to play pactful players making themselves avail-
flyhalf ahead of the Springbok Werner by-playing schools – and is currently the “The vast majority of the squad are in for the Chiefs’ Mitre 10 Cup side in New able later in the year and a few months
Greeff, to the frustrations of a very prom- assistant coach for False Bay, a big club in their early to mid-20s and there is so Zealand. Quite a few players were unavail- to try work on the areas identified, we are
ising career punctuated by injury. Cape Town, a former team of his during much room to grow and develop for so able at the camp in November, but I am confident that something special can be
his playing days.  many of them. In the forwards Cleopas positive that there will be numerous other achieved in the year.”
In all this, the former Prince Edward Kundiona (23), the former Falcon boy players who will put their hands up during
Boys High creative genius has never lost “I first started coaching during a recov- and young tighthead, was fantastic in the Currie Cup competition which kicks Benade was a Zimbabwe international
touch with rugby developments at home, ery period from a serious knee injury back the scrum as well as his work around the off in March (Zimbabwe will play in the in both the 15s and Sevens formats for a
despite settling in the Cape Town area for in 2009 where I assisted at my old school park in Stellenbosch in November. He Currie Cup First Division this season).” short period. It was in South Africa where
nearly two decades now. Prince Edward in Harare,” he says.  recently was rewarded with a contract in he established himself in senior rugby. In-
the French Pro D2 with USON Nevers. The World Cup dream is something juries aside, he shares his best memories
Whenever a team from Zimbabwe is in “Godwin Murambiwa was the head On the side of the scrum, Godfrey Mu- Benade believes in, like everyone involved, since Western Province handed him his
town, he drops everything to go and say coach, and he was kind enough to let me zanargwo (23), the Prince Edward old although he admits that the Herculean first-class debut 17 years ago. 
hello, or offer a few practical on-field tips.  help out with the backs. Learning under boy currently at UWC (University of the task of getting past old foes Namibia will
him and trying to teach and help players Western Cape), is also developing well at only be overcome with a team perfor- “I was very fortunate as a player to be
It was during one of these visits to Zim- enjoy themselves and reach their potential blindside and will be an important player mance of a lifetime. a part of two South African national club
babwe’s national team camp in nearby was a challenge I instantly enjoyed. In for Zimbabwe in 2022. Being more close- championship-winning teams and, look-
Stellenbosch — when the Sables partic- 2013, when my body was struggling with ly involved with the backs, I was particu- “Namibia are undoubtedly the bench- ing back, it’s something I can reflect on
ipated in a four-nation tournament with injuries and realising I could no longer re- larly impressed by the abilities of Tapiwa mark, and it is up to the rest of Africa to with a lot of pride,” he says. 
Namibia, Kenya and Brazil in November ally play at the highest level, the coaching Mafura (25), the young fullback currently try close that gap,” says Benade. “When
— that team management discovered the side took over and became my main in- contracted at the Pumas in South Africa. Namibia are at full strength, which I think “The first at Stellenbosch University
long-term value of the 40-year-old ex-star volvement in the game.” He is an extremely intelligent and skilful they may have been near to in November while I was a student and then later with
from Chegutu, who voluntarily offered last year, they are a very tough side to beat. Hamilton’s Rugby Club when I returned
his services. With the goal of qualifying Benade walks into a Sables environ- back to club rugby after a few seasons play-
for next year’s World Cup in France up- ing provincial rugby and spending time in
permost, Benade has now been appointed France. Both those teams were laden with
as one of the assistant coaches for Zimba- future and former stars of South African
bwe — specialising in the backline, kick- rugby. In 2004, I was named to start at
ing and skills aspects. 10 in a Western Province side that con-
tained 14 current and former Springboks
It is a role that thoroughly excites him, who had just returned from beating the
for many reasons including working All Blacks in Johannesburg. I remem-
alongside the Sables’ backline coach Dan- ber pinching myself when looking at the
iel Hondo, a schoolboy rival of his who team-sheet. Bolla Conradie was my 9,
played in a talented Churchill Boys High Jean De Villiers and Marius Joubert were
team that clashed fiercely with Benade’s in the centres, Pieter Rossouw and Brey-
great PE side around the turn of the mil- ton Paulse out wide. Further Springboks,
lennium. Neil de Kock, De Wet Barry and Werner
Greeff were on the bench. The forwards
“I have a great relationship with Daniel were young Schalk Burger. Then other
Hondo, the backline coach, as we are the Springbok stalwarts of the time Daan Hu-
same age and spent many years at school man, Eddie Andrews, Quinton Davids.
playing against each other and later to- Corne Krige was playing his final season
gether for various national age-group sides and it was a great honour being on the
and senior sides,” Benade tells The News- field with him in his last game for West-
Hawks this week.  ern Province in 2004. The most powerful
team I played against were the Blue Bulls
“It was great catching up with him side of 2006 and 2007. I was playing at
again.  Liam Middleton as the defence the Pumas at the time and it was no easy
coach was only able to join the camp a task playing against the core of the Super
bit later, so I was happy to fill in for him Rugby-winning and World Cup-winning
until he could be with the squad. Both squad of (Victor) Matfield, (Bakkies)
these (assistant) coaches have been doing Botha, (Fourie) du Preez, a young Morne
an amazing job, so I am just happy to be Steyn and Bryan Habana. In the Pumas,
able to help out whenever they are unable we had an 18-year-old Duane Vermeulen
to be there. Being involved with the Sables in our side. It was immediately clear and
is a huge privilege. Getting to know and obvious that he was on another level, and
working with such a group of young and only a matter of time before he would
passionate Zimbabweans is such a plea- showcase his talents at test level.”
sure. I am hoping to just bring a different
voice and point of view to the coaching Ample motivational stories for Sables
group. None of us know everything, but if players. 
we all add what we know, then the coach-
ing group becomes more complete and
the players, who we are there to serve, end
up getting a better and more rewarding
experience.”

Benade has been coaching at various

A time for us all to take national stock
PERHAPS it was not just a coinci- win over Uganda, for a former Olympic ferent sport on Tuesday. might not be another reprieve until stunning 22-run win on tour in Sri
dence that on the return to national champion, should not be reason to be In the great scheme of things, I doubt somebody does what they ought to do Lanka, to level the three-match ODI se-
consciousness by the country’s greatest overly excited.  that the victory over Guinea by the the – for goodness’ sake! ries 1-1, was some refreshing stuff from
achiever in our history of team sport, on Warriors – already eliminated from the Zifa, who use the facility for inter- a team that has often floundered on the
that very same day, two perennial flop- But there is a background that tournament in Cameroon – can leave national matches, say it is government big stage for the greater part of 17 years.
pers remembered how to win. should not be ignored here, and with- us with key talking points. property, so let them fix it. The govern-
out sounding like a broken record, I Losing to Malawi in a must-win ment, it seems, has forgotten that.  The tour, part of the ICC World Cup
In their own Africa Cup of Nations have often opined how Zimbabwe as a match was a bitter Why is it Super League, pathway to 2023 World
in Ghana, again, fortuitously in a West sporting nation needs to put its money pill to swallow for that nobody Cup qualification, is of massive signifi-
African country, the Zimbabwe wom- where its mouth is. Warriors fans, and wants to cance to Zimbabwe after we missed out
en’s hockey team was the first to record the atmosphere of take respon- on the 2019 edition, the first time it has
the first success story in a national hat- Fact is that Zimbabwe has been great disillusionment HawkZone sibility? happened since 1983.
trick of international victories for the markedly stronger in the women’s game that had dominated It s a ma-
country on Tuesday.  for the simple reason that hockey is the pre-tournament jor national As you read this, the Chevrons are
the foremost code for females in the phase soon returned Enock concern that either still battling it out with the hosts
The sprightly young ladies from community that traditionally play this to engulf the nation never goes in Pallekele in the series decider, or we
Zimbabwe bounced back from a 3-0 sport, while their male counterparts again. Muchinjo away, much already have the result.
opening defeat to continental power tend to lean more towards rugby and Football in Zim- to our own
South Africa to outplay newcomers cricket.  babwe is in shambles detriment. The hockey ladies, at this time, have
Uganda 5-0. right now. We have Whenever also played their third match in Ghana,
It is a niche community to tap into, been down that road before. faced with some mandate for the good against Namibia, who are no slouch in
Hockey in Zimbabwe, bigger on and with smooth racial transformation The players have betrayed the fans’ of our football, we scurry for cover, this sport.
the women’s side for historical reasons, inevitable overtime as in any other pre- trust again. Facilities across the country down a dark abyss, hoping to emerge
slipped quietly beneath the radar for viously “elite” sport, so to speak, Zimba- are a collective national embarrassment. from there after a saviour from Mars I do not have a crystal ball. I wish
many years – a slow and painful demise bwe can surely have her day in the sun The only one ground we had has comes to the rescue.  I knew the outcome of both matches.
– after a young team from this country again in hockey – stronger in numbers.  been banned twice by the Confeder- Thankfully, in another result that But hopefully we end the week cele-
that had arrived in Moscow as late re- ation of African Football (Caf). There mattered on the Tuesday, Zimbabwe’s brating, with everyone beginning the
placement sensationally clinched the I am not sure I have the same op- course of taking responsibility, without
field hockey gold medal at the 1980 timism, for the time being at least, in the usual ducking and diving associated
Olympic Games. To a large degree, a another national team that played in with Zimbabwean sports. 
another Africa Cup of Nations of a dif-
Happy New Year, folks. 

Sports A crippling
poverty of
leadership
at Zifa

‘Humiliated, intimidated,
degraded’ ref reports
Thursday 1 October 2020 sexual advances

Friday 21 January 2022 @NewsHawksLive TheNewsHawks www.thenewshawks.com

Zim crumble as SriNEWS WHAT’S INSIDE CCrureaUnogddmLuieTolmraUtruRieonEvrniitese‘ymwlatuFitoiufnaaslhlyip
$60 Covid
tariff for
visitors &
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Lanka seaClhsaemrieissa reacStoryonPage 3
respectful’:Story on Page 8
SRC

ENOCK MUCHINJO

out to DISCONTENT over Zimbabwe’s ear-

Khupely exit from the Africa Cup of Nations
has overshadowed a real possibility that
the team might not have been allowed
to play at the tournament altogether.
But Zimbabwe’s Sports and Recre-
ation Commission (SRC), which dis-
regarded a thinly-veiled threat by Fifa
Unofficial president calls for emergeto reinstate the country’s football fed-
eration or risk an international football
ban, has restated that it shares “mutual
respect” with the world football govern-
ing body in the quest to mend the game
in the country. 
The SRC last year suspended the
Zimbabwe Football Association (Zifa)
board over a raft of charges relating to
financial misconduct, maladministra-
tion and sexual harassment.
Fifa, which normally reacts with ze-
ro-tolerance over matters of interference
in the affairs of its member associations
– finally came out publicly weeks before
the Afcon tournament in Cameroon –
issuing an ultimatum demanding the
reinstatement of the Zifa board by 3
January.  No action was taken by Fifa
after the SRC did not budge an inch,
and Zimbabwe’s team proceeded to the
Nations Cup finals, where the Warriors
bowed out in the group stage with just
one win over Guinea in a match of little
relevance to them. 
But it is not clear how much longer
Fifa will remain silent over the unre-
solved Zimbabwe issue. Gerald Mlotsh-
wa, the SRC chairperson, says the Zim-
babwean sports control body he leads is
Sri Lanka players celebrate as yet another Zimbabwean wicket falls. not at loggerheads with Fifa despite the
two’s opposing statutory positions.
SRI Lanka's bowlers ran ram- Mendis also took two. Somewhere The collapse was particular- lective bowling effort. Richard “Our engagements (with Fifa) have
pant Friday in the early overs of in that cascade of wickets, seamer ly disappointing for Zimbabwe, Ngarava claimed 2 for 46 from
Zimbabwe's chase, reducing the Chamika Karunaratne struck too, because their attack had operat- his nine overs while Chatara, always been mutually respectful and
opposition to 20 for 3, then 31 to remove the dangerous Sikandar ed with such discipline to keep Blessing Muzarabani, Wellington appreciative of the fact that notwith-
for 5, and eventually 70 all out, standing our seemingly diametric statu-
decimating their hopes of chasing Raza. Sri Lanka to a manageable total. Masakadza, Ryan Burl, and Sean tory mandates we have in common the
down 255 and claiming a series After 15 overs, Zimbabwe were Where Zimbabwe's own batters Williams all claimed one wicket desire that football should be played in
victory. 37 for 5, the required rate had ALhtatmhbuooSnaraaapetlddOft2ts-ci,p5encChIui4ebgeNghntushaft,fSutotuirprSiIrrostDgrithtne9ieoEslt,ityL.AtnaiwalnsPsntaigahtlkiahtneFahntiotuektnlhwuamaeadcrohcn3omhNu0pcaoe0berindfselsraevMtaaog-ihnnfoiniienkgungligyaers-istypabwiRannpnwweeainritrme8ehisipnchf0enoegie-Ksp.rerhssvuu,AclesnoooMpwranumlaohlgerpteieMnt,tnen$dfntgea3rhiinsonKmne.d2mogapuintrsBhuscue,Nthetixnalrwitlnalsio-ahosrdpbnatao,aenentisZrnrk4tsdeiiah8nmppearaaaprbtotnnrheoastoddde----sitomwHwZibnraiaaeamls“TnyZlnwFsthbftiakimbueanfofsaoebfdbnZoowigtansthiduSbefbefa,RiFwsa”odgrlCbreelMiadodtmtohaaoilbusoyreed.yrct. ads,oAtehlenhsZtnnwovhtigdesiieanamlfdobgoutSepoeereR'smcmlsidCtartheoeuelT.naens”ibhentttsdeesewoiewspNfsevtilestfblae,ollyoowloraeaptestlhd-----nd
crept above six, and the chase was c
Dushmantha Chameera blasted essentially buried. Ryan Burl and
out the first two wickets, before Tendai Chatara fought briefly to Zimbabwe's had been a col- gether. – Cricinfo 
the spinners claimed the limelight put up 18 for the ninth wicket —
-- Maheesh Theekshana squeezing the best stand of the innings. But
one between Sean Williams' bat it was all over by the 25th over,
and pad, Jeffrey Vandersay taking with Vandersay scything through
four of his own, before Ramesh the lower order.
mains suspended. 

ALSO INSIDE ‘Being involved with the Sables is a huge privilege’