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Brandon Moyo, Sports Reporter
WITH the start of the rugby season less than a week away, Old Miltonians (OMs) Under-20 head coach Tawanda Mhora is confident that his team will be able to defend their title.
The Bulawayo Metropolitan Rugby Football Board (BMRFB) Under-20 league is scheduled to get underway this coming Saturday at Hartsfield Rugby Grounds.
OMs are the defending champions having dethroned Christian Brothers College (CBC) Hornets who won the title in 2023.
Mhora said they are looking to stamp their authority while also providing a platform for the youngsters to transition to club rugby.
“The preparations have been going quite well, however, the thunderstorms which we are so grateful for have been preventing us from training consistently. We are looking forward to defend the title, rubber stamp our authority in the province and to help the players we have to make a transition from schools to club rugby,” said Mhora.
The OMs gaffer added that they have a number of talented players who will be coming in to join the squad to bolster the team that they had last year.
For Mhora, the forthcoming tournament is the right platform for youngsters to grow their game and take it to the next level.
“It’s a good transition from schools rugby to club rugby and it allows players to learn, evolve and develop under the watchful eye of former and current greats the province and club have and with we have witnessed players like Sean Ncube, Babongile Ncube, Bernard Njaravani, Dyhandra Mackay,Collins Musiniwa and Isheunesu Chinganga to mention a few becoming a massive contribution to not only the U20 provincial setup but OMs men’s and Provincial set-ups as well,” he said.
OMs will be facing competition from Matabeleland Warriors, Highlanders, Panthers, Bulldogs and Matabeleland Lions from Gwanda.
The six clubs will also be joined by five schools in CBC Hornets, Milton Elephants, Petra Spartans, Gifford Stingers and Founders High School.
Preparations for the development league, which serves as the traditional rugby season opener, are in full swing.
Excitement has already been building up ahead of the new season.
“Preparations are at an advanced stage, all local clubs have confirmed participation. We are now ready to get the games going. Field preparations are at an advanced stage,” said tournament director George Hlatshwayo.
The first-half of the league games will be played at the Hartsfield Rugby Grounds B Field since the main field is undergoing maintenance.
Hlatshwayo said that they are expecting a highly competitive tournament with all teams bringing their A-game. He added that the league plays a crucial role in helping school teams prepare for the season ahead.
In addition, it is the platform for the youngsters to put their hands up for Junior Sables contention.
“This tournament will be used as a platform for our Under-20s to showcase their skills and raise their hands for national team selection. We are hoping to invite the Junior Sables’ technical team to come down this side and witness our boys showcasing their talent.
“This league will also be used by the participating schools as preparation for their schoolboy calendar to try out new combinations. For the past few years, schools that have been in this league have gone on and performed well during the schools calendar,” said Hlatshwayo.
With a few days left, Mhora said they are not only looking at winning the Under-20 title but also are targeting to defend the men’s league title while also contributing greatly to making the province great again. – @brandon_malvin
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