Former Zimbabwe national Under-20 coach Godwin “Jaws” Murambiwa has challenged the Young Sables to win their first Under 20 Barthes trophy encounter against Namibia in Windhoek on Wednesday.

Speaking at a kit handover and final squad announcement for the Farai “Bob” Mahari coached lads last Friday, Murambiwa, the Zimbabwe Under-20 head coach from 2005 to 2007 said if the Young Sables do not win against Namibia, then they will face prospects of playing up to stay in the top group in the continent.

Zimbabwe takes on Namibia on Wednesday while Kenya clashes with Madagascar on the same day in the other semi-final, with the two winners expected to meet in the final three days after. The regional winners will then progress to the final African qualifier against the winner of the northern leg consisting of Tunisia, Ivory Coast, Senegal and Morocco with the overall winner to represent the continent at the World Rugby Under-20 Trophy to be held later on in the year at a yet to be named country.

“If you do not win that game, you are playing to stay up in the group and I think this is the most difficult thing that parents, press and fans when they talk about they do not understand so these boys go there, win their first game, they don’t win their first game, they are playing for their lives to stay in the group. It has always been like that, it will always be like that,’’ Murambiwa said.

Seed-Co are back as kit sponsors for the Young Sables having done so in the past but had since stopped. The company’s head of public relations and communications, Marjorie Mutemererwa said they returned as kit sponsors after being impressed by the direction the game is taking under the leadership of Zimbabwe Rugby Union president Aaron Jani.

“For me to be standing here it’s because the union did the right things, they said the right things on the day that you unveiled your new coach from South Africa. It was the best thing that you ever did and as sponsors when we were sitting in that room, I was convinced before I even went back to my board and management, I was convinced as Seed Co we were going to be part and parcel of this,’’ said Mutemererwa.  

Coach Mahari expressed his gratefulness to the Zimbabwe Under-20 committee chairman Itai Chataura, the parents and the sponsors for the wonderful job they did in preparing the players for the trip to Namibia. He challenged his players to go out and win the competition where Zimbabwe were last champions in 2011.

The Young Sables are in camp at Peterhouse Boys in Marondera prior to their departure for Namibia on Monday. Centre Matthew McNab will lead the Young Sables with lock Godfrey Muzanaro as his deputy.

Zimbabwe Under-20 squad

Cleopas Kundiona, Sam Garnett, Munashe Kujeke, Cameron Harrison, Victor Mupunga, Godfrey Magaramombe, Joshua Mukurazhizha, Malvern Nyakuedzwa, Blithe Mavesere, Tichaona Hwangwa, Tinashe Chaza, Tonderai Chiwambutsa, Godfrey Muzanaro (vice-captain), Connor McMillan, Jeremiah Jaravaza, Nigel Tinarwo, Tinotenda Savanhu, Taine Roelofsz, Mathew McNab(captain), Mazvita Nyamarebvu, Rufaro Chikwaira, Julian Tafireyi, Cosmas Mubaiwa, Munashe Kamunda, Martin Mangongo

Coach: Farai Maharai

Assistant coach: Jeffrey Madhake

Team manager: Shingirai Mutseyekwa

Physiotherapist: Abigail Munikwa

Fitness trainer: Mark Wilson

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