Petros Kausiyo-Zimpapers Sports Hub FOR over two decades, Zimbabweans have endured the agony of seeing their Rugby World Cup qualification bids being largely thwarted by old foes and Southern African neighbours Namibia. Since 1999, the Welwitschias have been to seven World Cup tournaments mostly at the expense of the Sables. But the current Sables crop, showed that the Welwitschias are not invincible after all with skipper Hilton Mudariki and his troops posting a famous 32-10 semi-final victory over the Namibians on their way to their 2024 Rugby Africa Cup success on July 24 in Uganda last year. It was the Sables’ first Africa Cup triumph in 12 years. Legends throw their weight behind Sables And as they look to face an 80-minute date with World Cup destiny tomorrow, Mudariki and his class of 2025 got a morale boost with their Sables’ predecessors backing them to end Zimbabwe’s 34-year wait for a place at the global rugby showcase. The Zimbabwe legends are united in the belief that there is an extra touch in Piet Benade’s men which should see them cross the line and touch the stars tomorrow. Karl Mudzamba, then a flying wing who featured for Old Miltonians before his career took him to Australia and New Zealand told Zimpapers Sports Hub from his base in the United States that he is convinced the Sables have the pedigree to complete a rare double over Namibia. “Here we go again against the old enemy. We will have to do something we have never done before if we are to progress, and that is to beat Namibia in a second straight test match,’’ Mudzamba said. “Namibia have history on their side so we will be up against it. Their long stretch of wins has only briefly been punctuated by the odd Sables’ win, far too few for comfort. “Nothing good in life comes easy so we will have to take it from them, if we are to achieve our goal. “We will have to play rugby in the right parts of the field, as is required, to win this test match. “We have an excellent general in Ian Prior who can get us the territory we need to achieve this. There is valuable experience in the captain, Hilton Mudariki, Tapiwa Mafura, Tinotenda Mavesere, Brandon Mudzekenyedzi and Cleopas Kundiona. “Hopefully their experiences professionally, and the pain of falling short last time can inspire them to put in the shifts required to get us home,” Mudzamba said. Mudzamba is among those legends who have previously fallen to Namibia. “I had the privilege of facing the old enemy twice, the first time was in 1998, and the second time was in 2002. “If I’m honest, the first time we were second best by a mile, but the 2002 game still haunts me to this day because it was a coin toss. We didn’t make the right decisions in those critical moments, and we paid for it. “The outcome this weekend will come down to how we handle those critical moments’’ added Mudzamba. Ex- lock Brighton Chivandire, who captained and later coached the Sables in a storied career for Zimbabwe weighed in with his support for the current squad. “We’ve been the nearly-men for a long time now. I hurt to this day, when I remember how close we were in 2002. “The last dance at the premium event (World Cup) was in ’91, way too long for a country that has produced so much rugby talent. It’s about time,’’ Chivandire said. “I trust coach Piet’s leadership. He has around him some of the best brains in the game. There are 16 million Zimbos around the world wishing this team well. Carry the Bird with pride. “It is our time. We have the talent and we have prepared well. The depth of this group is unmatched. “Three words for the team . . . Clinical, ruthless and control. Go Sables! We will cross the line I’ve never been this confident before.’’ He lauded Benade for transforming the Sables. “Piet Benade and his staff have prepared the boys well. They have gone about things differently during his tenure, so I hope they continue with their current trajectory. I wish him and the team all the best this weekend for their date with destiny,’’ Chivandire said. Time to get the monkey off the back Former Old Georgians and Sables forward Dave Kirkman rallied the Sables to finally turn the tables on Namibia on the biggest of stages. “Back in our day, Namibia were always the stumbling block when it came to World Cup qualification — except in ‘95 when Cote d’Ivoire went through. “After that World Cup we had belief and we beat them in Namibia in the opening game of the Bankfin night series. “From then on, the games got tighter, and the gap started to close. For this current Zim side, the key is to treat this match like any other — don’t get caught up in the hype or the history. “Namibia has always been a tough opponent, but this time, it’s Zimbabwe standing in their way, we have the upper hand. “We haven’t had an opportunity like this since South Africa and Namibia were allowed to compete in the World Cup. This Zim team has a genuine shot at rewriting history — let them be the ones to finally get the monkey off our back,’’ Kirkman said. Former Zimbabwe and Old Miltonians flanker Jeff Tigere, now based in Germany added his voice and advised the Sables to believe in their capabilities. “Well . . . I wish the Sables all the best for Saturday, looking at this tournament they have been improving game by game and I’m sure if they play their hearts out, and minimise their mistakes from last weekend (against Kenya) they will come good. “They need to believe in themselves and focus. We are behind them,’’ Tigere said. United Kingdom-based Ellimon “Bedford” Chimbima was a talented fullback who rocked for both Old Hararians and the Sables and is also familiar with the pain of having Namibia as Zimbabwe’s nemesis. “I am happy that the Sables have qualified for the finals of the Africa Cup which is an opportunity to have a crack at the World Cup itself if they can hold their nerves and beat Namibia. “Very much the position we were back in 1990 when the qualifiers were played in Harare and we played and beat Tunisia in the finals to qualify for 1991 World Cup. “Since then, we have missed being at the World Cup with Namibia being our main hurdle but having watched the progress our boys have made in the past couple of years under the watch of Piet Benade, I feel the team is better prepared for Namibia this time round and this can be the turning point Zimbabwe rugby fraternity needed. “Piet has done a wonderful job and if he can get past Namibia again a new page will have been written. “Also, this wouldn’t be possible without all the behind-the-scenes work done by those in various positions within the rugby union and those who continue to believe in this group,” Chimbima said. The Nelson Mandela stadium in Kampala will be the site for this massive showdown but if the air of belief and confidence swirling in the Zimbabwe rugby fraternity is anything to go by, then this is the Sables’ time.