‘Maybe it’s a sneaky trial run for Zim’s World Cup squad’: Tsimba jests about comeback
- vimbayi makwavarara
- Oct 22
- 2 min read
BY ENOCK MUCHINJO
HARARE – World Rugby Hall of Famer and former Zimbabwe captain Kennedy Tsimba has jested that he could “sneak” into the Sables’ 2027 World Cup squad if he impresses in a legends match in Bloemfontein on Sunday.
51-year-old Tsimba will play in his trademark flyhalf position for Bulls Legends against Cheetahs Legends in an exhibition match to curtain-raise the Cheetahs’ Toyota Challenge clash with Georgian side Black Lion.
“Looks like it’s time to dust off the boots and see if there’s still a bit of gas left in the tank!” Tsimba told SportsCast on Wednesday.
He quipped: “Who knows, maybe it’s a sneaky trial run for Zimbabwe’s 2027 World Cup squad. Don’t tell the selectors yet!”
Zimbabwe’s first black rugby captain, Kennedy Tsimba didn’t qualify for the World Cup with the Sables in his playing career, but his late older brother and fellow World Rugby Hall of Fame inductee Richard Tsimba featured for their country in the first two editions of the Webb Ellis Cup in 1987 and 1991.
While Tsimba played for both Bulls and Cheetahs in his outstanding career, it was earlier on at the latter where he was a real enigma – winning individual awards for the Vodacom Player of the Year in 2000, Free State Sportsman of the Year in 2001 and Currie Cup Player of the Year in 2003 during his six-year spell at the Bloemfontein side.
Sunday will mark a special homecoming for Tsimba, a run-on at his old favourite hunting ground, against a province that paved his path to stardom.
“Either way, it’s all in good spirit,” Tsimba said. “Rugby will be the real winner on the day in Bloemfontein.”
Tsimba is currently an assistant coach at Bulls, the Pretoria-based South African giants.
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