Zimbabwe’s rugby captain, Panashe Zuze, expressed his team’s readiness to challenge the favourites as the World Under-20 Rugby Trophy commences on Saturday.
In their opening match of the tournament, Zimbabwe will face Scotland at 10 am at the Nyayo National Stadium, and Zuze emphasized their determination to begin the competition on a high note.
Aware of the tough competition they will face, Zuze stated, “We have prepared well, knowing the level of competition we are going to face because this tournament features very strong teams with quality players. If we are not at our best, we can easily be disappointed.” Zimbabwe finds themselves in Pool A alongside USA, Uruguay, and Scotland, a challenging group that Zuze acknowledges won’t be easy to navigate. However, he believes their team possesses enough talent to secure qualification for the next round.
“We have never stopped training since our Barthes Cup victory. We had to maintain the momentum so that we can arrive at the World Cup at our best,” Zuze added.
In April, Zimbabwe defeated Kenya 28-7 in the Barthes Cup final, and Zuze is eager to build on that success. With the return of some quality players who missed the previous tournament due to school commitments, the team has grown stronger.
Zuze stated, “We are a much stronger side because the players who missed the Barthes Cup have rejoined the team. This makes us even better, and we are hoping for the best.”
The winners of the tournament will earn promotion to the World Rugby U20 Championship in 2024, adding further motivation for Zimbabwe to perform at their best and achieve success on the international stage.
