Let’s respect everybody who’s been there for us, as Sables juggernaut takes off

BY TINO MOMBESHORA

HARARE – I love travelling and exploring, when the pocket allows and there’s the real prospect of experiencing something totally new and exciting.

So as a big fan of Zimbabwean sport, Uganda was the perfect destination, to witness the 2025 Rugby Africa Cup, a qualification competition for the 2027 Rugby World Cup. At the same time, an opportunity to discover the “Pearl of Africa”, as this East African country proudly calls itself.

I’d never been to Uganda before; I’ve travelled to neighbouring Kenya on quite a few occasions for training workshops.

But I had read stories of Uganda, about the country’s mind-blowing diversity and natural beauty, as well as the warmth, friendless and good cheer of the beautiful Ugandan people.

So on quite a modest budget, I made my flight reservation with Ethiopian Airlines, playing it cautious a bit by waiting for the result of Zimbabwe’s first game of the qualifiers against Morocco.

I watched the match at home in Harare as the Sables outclassed the Moroccans 48-8, after which I immediately confirmed my ticket to Kampala via Addis Ababa on a sole trip.

I landed at Entebbe International Airport in the early hours of 13 July 2025, on the very day Zimbabwe was clashing with Kenya in the qualifiers’ semi-finals later in the afternoon.

The USD$60 taxi ride from Entebbe – to the Kampala lodgings secured for me by a Uganda-based Zimbabwean professional at discounted rate – was slightly over an hour.

I checked into my week-long home in downtown Kampala – a modest but neat self-contained apartment that was secure, convenient and fairly suitable for the kind of experience I was looking forward to.

After some hours of rest, my first real experience of Uganda would be commuting to the Namboole Stadium on a boda boda (motorcycle taxi), the bikers expertly navigating heavy traffic through the bright-red soil neighbourhoods, on the edges of the crowded Kampala CBD, into the busy gates of the stadium.

The roughly 20km ride cost me about 5 000 Ugandan Shillings, some $3. Fair charge.

The alternative arena of the stadium, which was being used for the tournament as it is smaller and therefore creates a carnival atmosphere for rugby, was packed to the rafters.

Music, dance, food and drinks gave a fitting soundtrack to the rugby and I immediately took a liking for the tasty Nile beer, Uganda’s favourite brew.

I arrived at the ground whilst the earlier games were still underway, 30 minutes before the first semi-final between Namibia and Algeria.

The Namibians eased past Algeria 21-7 after which I moved near the tunnel of the ground to have a closer view of the Sables running onto the field for the blockbuster second semi-final against Kenya, the last action of an action-packed day.

As I leaned on the pitch-side fence, beer in hand, as both teams were about to run in and excitement was building up, I was cheerfully greeted by two affable gentlemen standing next to me. The two buddies were engrossed in their drinks and absorbing conversation, and appeared to be in very good spirits.

I quickly noted that they were Kenyan traveling fans, complete in their Kenya Simbas jerseys and matching denims.

They were apparently discussing the match that had just finished, remarking concurringly about how Namibia hadn’t been convincing “of late” despite their win over Algeria, and how the Namibians were at their weakest in a very long time.

“This is our best chance to qualify for the World Cup,” said one, prompting a quick reply from his mate in the affirmative: “We are going to beat this Namibia team in the final.”

The two Kenyan gentlemen, right there before a clash with Zimbabwe in the other semi-final, were looking beyond the Sables and already anticipating a triumphant meeting with Namibia in the final!

I asked myself silently: what could be the source of these two lads’ overconfidence to the extent of seeing a Kenya v Zimbabwe semi-final as a foregone conclusion?

Zimbabwe, come to think of it, a side that was coming into this important World Cup qualification tournament as the Africa Cup defending champions, and enjoying a spell of very good form.

Perhaps it could be that, since Zimbabwe’s Africa Cup glory the year before wasn’t in a World Cup qualification year, the Sables were going to crumble again where it mattered most, in a qualification tournament?

This can be a plausible argument, when you look at the fact that the Kenyans had been coming second behind Namibia in the qualification competitions for the last two World Cup editions in 2019 and 2023.

Or it had to do with Kenya’s preparations. After overpowering the UAE 54-24 in a friendly match in Nairobi in May 2025, the Simbas then went on a month-long intense training camp in South Africa, playing matches in Cape Town against Currie Cup sides, universities and top clubs.

It wasn’t the Kenyans only who had a great deal of confidence in their World Cup qualification chances.

As it was, the losing finalist in the World Cup qualifiers in Kampala was set to remain in Uganda for a week to face UAE in an inter-continental play-off to keep alive their hopes of sneaking through to the World Cup as Africa’s third team.

The winner in the Africa Cup final, of course, qualified directly for the World Cup to join the Springboks in Australia in 2027.

So a week before the qualifiers in Kampala, a Ugandan official was quoted by the local press, remarking at a press conference – tongue-in-cheek – that “the team losing to Uganda in the final will remain in Kampala” for the UAE play-off.

Uganda, it turned out, had also been busy in preparation – touring Southern Africa for a game against Namibia as well as contests with South African provincial sides Limpopo Blue Bulls and Pumas.

Meanwhile, Zimbabwe were going about their business quietly at home, being ridiculed even by some of their own people for playing games against so-called minnows like Zambia and Botswana.

Thankfully, the roar of the Sables machine was already unstoppable.

Those who knew what was taking place behind the scenes didn't panic. The kind of professionalism around the team, under the leadership of the Sables Trust and other very good people and partners involved, was something never seen before in Zimbabwean rugby. It was the missing link in previous failed qualification bids.

The competition provided by our good Zambian and Batswana neighbours was sufficient for the task at hand, and for the wonderfully gifted group of players we had.

Zambia and Botswana were gracious competitors, they left everything on the field, and put bodies on the life for their beloved nations.

Zimbabwe owes these two countries a great amount of gratitude for the role they played.

They learnt from Zimbabwe, and Zimbabwe gained good game-time, time on the ball, and an opportunity to perfect combinations.  

By the time they arrived in Kampala, the Sables could feel it in the depth of their hearts that their time had finally arrived, that this was their tournament, their moment, that in spite of their opponents standing in front of them, nothing could stop them this time around. Absolutely nothing.

The Sables defeated Kenya 29-23 in the second semi-final to advance to the final, where they beat Namibia 30-28 to qualify for the World Cup for the first time since 1991.

In preparing for a return to the World Cup, Zimbabwe has recently played against Zambia at home in two Tests to kick-start the journey to Australia.

Tougher games, thankfully, are on their way with the arrival of a new global tournament, the World Rugby Nations Cup as well as the match against South Africa ‘A’ in Port Elizabeth in June.

It is disheartening though, that the same critics who dismissed Zambia as worthless opponents in the Sables’ qualification preparations have been vocal about playing against the Copper Belts again.

How people quickly forget, that this was the same team that helped us sharpen our arsenal while our big African rivals were elaborate in their approach.

Having watched the second Test against Zambia while I was visiting relatives in Bulawayo, I was happy to see how vastly they’ve improved and that should be in large part due to their continuous engagement with Zimbabwe across the border. They need us as they continue to improve.

We too cannot turn back now and say we do not need them, when they were there when we needed them, and when they suited a purpose in the Sables’ preparations. That would be utterly disrespectful.

Imagine if that is the kind of mindset the South Africans have. We would not be getting such fixtures as a Springboks v Barbarians curtain-raiser against pretty much a Bok ‘B’ side.

Let’s respect our opponents and all-weather friends, and let’s trust the process.

The Sables juggernaut is about to announce itself to the world.

*Tino Mombeshora is a Zimbabwean writer, graphic artist and sports fan. He writes for SportsCast in his personal capacity.