SABLES coach Brendan Dawson said the door remains open for the team’s senior players who were left out for the recent Madagascar tour following a last-minute complaint and petition against the team’s management. DANIEL NHAKANISO SPORTS REPORTER
Dawson’s remarks came after he was forced to travel with a depleted squad to Madagascar which was missing several key players such as Costa Dinha, Cleopas Makotose, Gardner Nechironga, and Tangai Nemadire, among others.
Although Zimbabwe failed to defend their African title after losing to Kenya in the final, they still managed to stay in contention for a 2015 World Cup place courtesy of a 38-18 win over the hosts in the semi-finals.
The former Sables captain said the so-called “rebel players” still had a role to play in next year’s CAR Division 1A championship where the winner will automatically qualify for the World Cup.
“The door is still open for the guys to return to the side as long as they want to get back to business and are apologetic about their actions,” Dawson said.
“We are now at a very crucial stage of the qualifying process where we need to be united towards working at achieving a common goal. “That’s why I believe they still have a role to play in the side just like any new players plying their trade out there who feel they’re good enough to play for the national side and are willing to prove themselves.
“Everyone will be given an equal chance to prove that they are worthy of making the side,” Dawson said. Dawson, part of the last Zimbabwe side to play at the World Cup in 1991, said better conditioning programmes were key for the Sables side ahead of next year’s qualifiers, saying the national team players need to get “physically stronger”.
“We definitely need to relook how we approach next year’s tournament. For starters we need to get physically stronger, which means we need to put in place more efficient conditioning programmes. This will, however, require local sponsors to come on board to assist and make sure that the team gets adequate preparations,” he added.
- Chamisa under fire over US$120K donation
- Mavhunga puts DeMbare into Chibuku quarterfinals
- Pension funds bet on Cabora Bassa oilfields
- Councils defy govt fire tender directive
Keep Reading
Dawson’s remarks on the importance of adequate preparations come after Kenya showed how important it is to be thoroughly prepared in the countdown to the tournament.
The East Africans reaped the benefits of better support from their corporate world which saw them embarking on a strength and conditioning programme while also receiving tactical assistance of the South African Western Province franchise.
While Zimbabwe was forced to cancel their tour of South Africa, the Kenyans had a 10-day training camp with the Western Province franchise in Cape Town prior to the Madagascar tour.
In April former Springboks head coach Peter de Villiers also conducted a week-long-high performance training camp with the Kenyan team in a deal bankrolled by the East African side’s sponsors.
