FS Raiders Women’s rugby club have been drawn in the same group with Harare Sports Club at the Zambia Independence Challenge cup, which roars into life tomorrow at Red Arrows rugby club in Lusaka, Zambia.
Leopardesses joins the two Zimbabwe teams in group B. Old Georgians women will play tournament favourites Eagles and hosts Red Arrows in group A, completing the six-team tournament lineup.
It is a 10’s rugby tournament played 12 minutes per half, with the top two teams from each group proceeding to the semifinals.
Raiders women are bullish ahead of their opening match against Harare Sports Club tomorrow.
Loose forward Nyasha Gonangombe, one of Raiders club captains, said they are using the tournament as their first step into being a women’s rugby powerhouse in Africa.
“There are positive vibes in the camp ahead of our first match against Sports Club,” Gonangombe told EnterSportNews in Zambia.
“It’s in every girl’s mind that this tournament is our first step in becoming one of the best rugby clubs in Africa.”
The weather in Lusaka is sweltering and humid, but Gonangombe is not using it as an excuse.
“We spent three hours at the border in the scorching heat. The temperatures here in Lusaka are also high, but everyone is raring to go after today’s session. We feel we have prepared adequately for this tournament to win it” she said.
Harare Sports Club’s Natasha Mutumbi gave a brutally honest assessment of her team and feels winning will be a bonus.
“We are using these games to get our team into shape and gain experience so that the team can be competitive next year. We have a new and fairly young team; therefore this trip is part of the learning curve, and winning will be a bonus,” Mutumbi said.
“Zambian hospitality has been outstanding, but the weather is really hot, but we are getting used to it. We are rebuilding the team, but we want to take Harare Sports club to its former glory days.”
Harare Sports Club, the only men’s side from Zimbabwe at the Independence Challenge Cup, will battle it out with Arrows A, Nkwazi and Legends in Group A, with the top two teams from each group going to the quarterfinals.
