France-based prop Victor Mupunga has become the latest foreign-based star to join the Zimbabwe senior rugby team’s training camp ahead of the Rugby Africa Cup in Uganda.
The 24-year-old loose-head prop Mupunga is fresh from a solid season at French Federale 1 side Club Sportif Nuits-Saint-Georges Rugby.
Mupunga’s arrival is a major boost for the
Sables, who started their official camp on Monday in preparation for their Africa Cup opener against hosts Uganda in Kampala on the July 20.
The eight-team Africa Cup will be played between 20 and 28 July in Kampala. Only the top four sides will progress to next year’s final phase of World Cup qualifiers, giving extra incentive to the tournament.
The former Churchill High School progidy is so far the most notable foreign based player in the Zimbabwe squad mainly comprising locally based players who have all stepped up the intensity of preparations ahead of their East African challenge.
“It has been a while since I have been back with the team and I am really happy to be called in to play with the boys,” Mupunga said.
“The boys have been putting in some good work and it was tough catching up with them on my first day. With the Uganda game approaching, the boys aren’t feeling pressure, but rather a growing excitement to compete, especially seeing other teams raise their game.”
Zimbabwe’s ongoing training camp comes on the back of their 22-17 win over neighbours Zambia in a friendly tie in Lusaka over a week ago.
The Sables technical team is aiming to bolster their squad by including several players plying their trade abroad.
After the arrival of Mupunga, TJ Maguranyanga, the France-based utility back, is among the foreign-based stars lined up to boost Zimbabwe’s rugby squad.
The 21-year-old speedster, who plays for French Top 14 club ASM Clermont Auvergne mainly at fullback, featured for the Zimbabwe Sevens side during the first leg of the Rugby Africa Men’s Sevens in Mauritius last weekend.