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HARARE – Without a win in three African Rugby Africa Cup matches, the Sands hope to play at Hartsfield Stadium in Bulawayo [19659003] Zimbabwe faces Namibia's old Nemesis in local rugby's home next Saturday in a potentially explosive match.
Peter de Villiers' team begins its campaign in the 2018 Gold Cup with a disappointing 23-23 home. The match against Morocco at the Harare Sports Club in June severely compromised the team's chances of qualifying for the World Rugby Cup finals in Japan in 2019.
Only the best team in the division will join South Africa
The team that will finish in second place in the Gold Cup will still have a chance to qualify for the Rugby World Cup but via the Repecharge competition.
After the draw with Mor Les Sables were on the road while they were losing 45-36 in Nairobi Kenya at the end of June.
Zimbabwe then went to Tunisia where it lost 18-14 to Monastir in a match that will be remembered. The Sables housing struggles on their arrival in the North African nation.
The bad start of the competition left the Villiers team in fourth place with six points on the six-team list.
Namibia leads the standings with 15 points followed by Kenya on 14 points while Tunisia is third with four.
Morocco occupies fifth place with three points, while Uganda occupies the standings without a point on the board.
Later this month, the Sands are already out of the competition for the Rugby World Cup.
Zimbabwe is now playing for pride and to make sure they keep their place in the Gold Cup, otherwise they will be relegated to the second level Silver Cup for next season
With the match against the Welwitschias this weekend being now held in Bulawayo, the Sands players are very confident that they will get a good result this time around.
Lawrence Cleminson, the Sable Pier Originally from Bulawayo, he is eager to face the Welwitschias in front of his supporters.
"My first experience at Hartsfield dates back to 2003, then again in 2004 in the President's Hall where I received my Matabeleland Duikers" The President's Room is filled with all the memories and all the Sable trophies the past; it's the home of rugby Zimbabwe.
"The last time I played there was last year against Kenya; It was a wonderful experience to play in front of my local crowd.
" The people of Bulawayo love rugby and they are passionate; they go out in their number to support us when we play. I look forward to playing this game and it is important that we give back to the people who supported us. We need a great match and we can not wait to be there. "
The Zimbabwean flank Lucky Sithole has fond memories at Hartsfield since his school years and hopes that he will then motivate to beat Namibia.
" It's the home of rugby Zimbabwean and it will be good for us to play it. We need to bring that culture back where the people of Bulawayo know that Zimbabwean rugby is still alive, "said Sithole.
" I have a lot of memories of my school years and the tests of the less 19 years old. The biggest memory for me would be to be part of the Zim Under-21 in 2006. "
Irvine Nduwa was part of the Milton High team that defeated the famous Christian Brothers College in Hartsfield in 2010. [19659003] The raging accessory hopes that experience will stimulate it in the clash against the Welwitschias.
"I'm from Bulawayo and I can not wait to play this game in my homeland where I have a lot of memories, "said Nduwa.
" I remember that in 2010, I was still at the Milton High School and we beat CBC for the first time and we were playing at Hartsfield
"This is one of the greatest achievements we have had on this field.
Matthew Mandioma, Sand Hooker, said: ranks in the school rugby system, I know that there is a lot of heritage and culture behind Hartsfield Stadium; "I know the community of Bulawayo rugby and I know how exciting it is and it is a completely different atmosphere than that of Harare, so I am looking forward to doing the experience.
team, we can shoot in one direction and give them something to cheer. "
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