NATIONAL rugby coach Brandon Dawson has lamented the team’s poor funding ahead of next month’s Tri-Nations Tournament to be held in Namibia.
REPORT BY ALBERT MARUFU
The Sables, who are the current Africa Cup champions, were invited together with Spain to take part in a tournament that will also include hosts Namibia.
Dawson, whose side failed to defend the Victoria Cup due to financial constrains, are hoping to use the tournament as part of preparations for the 2015 Rugby World Cup qualifiers.
The tournament in Namibia, which originally had four teams, but was reduced to three following the withdrawal of South Africa’s Barbarians, will run from November 12 to 18 in Windhoek.
Dawson said players are currently preparing for the tournament in batches, with some training in Bulawayo while others are in Harare.
“We expect to camp in Harare on November 4, but preparations so far have not been pleasing. We will not be able to bring in a number of players, especially from abroad whom we would have wanted to try because there is no money for airfares. We have not been successful in our efforts to raise money,” said Dawson.
Dawson, however, said their target remains that of beating Spain as they were the more powerful side.
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“We obviously would want to beat the two teams, but beating Spain would be fantastic. They are improving and it gives a wonderful spirit to beat them. Namibia have been struggling of late, but have made drastic improvements and we will also be playing them next year in the Africa Cup,” he said.
The Sables have also been invited to the Emirates Cup of Nations to be held in Dubai from December 8 to 14.
The six-team tournament will see Zimbabwe joining Hong Kong and Belgium in Pool A while hosts United Arab Emirates, Mexico and Papua New Guinea play in Pool B.
However, the two trips are in doubt as the cash-strapped Zimbabwe Rugby Union is struggling to raise funds for the two trips.
