By Daniel Nhakaniso
He might now be plying his trade in France — home to the world’s richest rugby union competition — the Top 14, but Zimbabwe rugby star Victor Mupunga has not forgotten where the foundations of his success were laid down.
The 24-year-old recently capped off another successful season at French Federale 1 side Club Sportif Nuits-Saint-Georges Rugby, as he continues his steady rise barely two years after initially moving to the European country to join seventh tier side US Pays De Gex Rugby.
It’s been a remarkable rise for Mupunga, who was undoubtedly one of the standout performers from Zimbabwe’s unsuccessful bid to qualify for the 2024 Rugby World Cup in France.
From his humble beginnings at Churchill High School and later as local side Pitbulls to becoming a full-fledged Zimbabwe rugby international and seasoned professional in France, Mupunga couldn’t be happier with the way things are going.
But he is quick to attribute his to the foundations laid by his mentors during his school days at Churchill High School.
Born in Harare in August 1999, Mupunga got his first introduction to rugby at Borrowdale Primary School in the capital.
However it was at Harare’s sporty Churchill High School where Mupunga flourished as a fledgling rugby star after his move in 2012.
The gifted prop initially honed his skills with the junior teams at Churchill before breaking into the Under-16 side and later to the school’s first team which is popularly known as the Bulldogs.
“During my time at Churchill initially I played rugby just for the thrill and never thought much of it until I was about 16 years old. It was then when I got the ambition to play at higher levels and take it on seriously,” Mupunga said in an exclusive interview with Zim Sport Live.
“I was just getting on by until about Under-16 when I got into camp with the U16 “Puppies” team. We had a successful undefeated season and boosted my profile with the first team coaches, Geoffrey Madhake and Bob Mahari. I moved up to the first team and we had an amazing Bulldogs first team season in 2016 going unbeaten, and Tapiwa Malenga, who is now with the Cheetahs side, was on that team,” he said.
In 2017 Mupunga was the captain of the star-studded Churchill Bulldogs side which registered a famous away victory against powerhouses Peterhouse College.
The talent-laden side featured several players who have gone to play professionally.
Perhaps the most famous alumnus from the group is the highly rated loose forward Tino Mavesere, who is on the books of South African rugby union giants Sharks.
Matthew Oworu, who has been a regular for Canada on the HSBC World Sevens Series was also part of the team.
“We had a good season. We managed to win against Peterhouse away, which is one of my fondest memories. Notable names from that year are Tinotenda Mavesere (Sharks), Matthew Oworu (Canada), and Nigel Tinarwo , Kudakwashe Nyamakura (Zimbabwe Cheetahs). The whole experience was really amazing.”
Mupunga says the expert coaching and mentoring he received from the coaches at Churchill, who include the current Bulldogs coach Geoff Madhake and Bob Mahari, who is now at Lomagundi College prepared him for the next phase of his rugby career.
“I believe I left the school ready to take on the world. We were moulded to be tenacious and mount “relentless pressure for perfection” which was our slogan at the time. The two coaches and management really prepared us for what was to come in life and to trust the process,” Mupunga said.
Despite being overlooked for selection into the country’s junior teams and only making the non-travelling reserves for Zimbabwe’s Under-18 squad for the Academy Week in South Africa, Mupunga never doubted his abilities.
He was more determined than ever to make it as a professional rugby player.
“The ultimate goal was always to play rugby professionally after leaving school. The closest I had got to making Zimbabwe U18s was getting selected for national trials with the Mashonaland A team in 2016 and finishing as a non traveler for the Academy week team in 2017.
“After missing out on these teams, the goal to play for the national team seemed to move further from me, but I was committed.”
Mupunga earned his first national cap in 2018 for the Zimbabwe Under-20 rugby team’s Barthes Trophy tie against Namibia after a successful season with the Pitbulls side in the domestic Under-20 competition.
He featured for the Junior Sables in the same competition again the following season before joining domestic giants Harare Sports Club.
His exploits in the domestic league soon caught the attention of national selectors as he was called up to the Zimbabwe A side for their tour of Zambia.
“The trip to Zambia was my first senior game for Zimbabwe but at that stage, moving up to the Sables was still looking dim, but as a Bulldog I knew to always “trust the process.”
“In 2019, I received a full bursary from Ultimate Aim, who are also known as Mustangs Academy, where I got my first taste of rugby in South Africa. When I moved to South Africa for the first time it was not so hard to adjust to their playing style and physicality as my time with the Bulldogs, Pitbulls, Harare Sports Club, Zimbabwe U20s and Zimbabwe A had prepared me well and I was coping well and excelling in South Africa.”
After his stint with the Mustangs Academy for the U20 season, Mupunga returned to Zimbabwe and continued to play for Harare Sports Club.
It was during this stint when the former Sables captain Denford Mtamangira, who had been impressed by his progress introduced him to former Zimbabwe star Gerald Sibanda, who had just formed his sports management firm Athletes Sphere Management.
Sibanda, who is vying for the Zimbabwe Rugby Union (ZRU) presidency was able to facilitate a move for Mupunga to the Johannesburg club Raiders in 2020 but the move was affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Unfortunately, that’s when Covid-19 hit and all sporting activities were suspended, but the club kept me and took care of me during the whole pandemic. I used this opportunity to really develop myself physically and skills wise and by the time rugby came back I was in good form,” recalls Mupunga.
His big breakthrough came a year later when he made his debut for the Sables in the Stellenbosch Quadrangular Challenge Series, which also featured Namibia and Brazil.
Mupunga’s debut came during the Sables 24-22 win against higher ranked Brazil.
“This was a big achievement for me and all the work put in through covid had really paid off. I was under pressure to perform as a poor performance could tarnish future chances but I had a decent enough debut and we won the game which was really good for my confidence. The feeling itself was bittersweet as I had just lost my father earlier in the year and it was an achievement we had spoken about before but sadly he didn’t live to see it.”
After his debut in Stellenbosch, Mupunga went on to establish himself as a key member of the Zimbabwe Goshawks side which featured in the Currie Cup First Division in the leadup to the qualifiers for last year’s Rugby World Cup.
He believes the stint with the Goshawks helped him to develop his game.
“The coaches provided me with constant support and pushed me to keep getting better and it worked. All aspects of my game were improved during this period earning me a spot in the final squad. The team of coaches and specialists for different aspects of the game did a number on me teaching me a lot about the game.”
Although Zimbabwe failed in their bid to qualify for the World Cup during the qualifiers, Mupunga’s consistent performances earned him a big move to France, where he has continued to thrive.
He initially joined Federale 3 side Union Sportive du Pays de Gex Rugby (USPG) before moving to Club Sportif Nuiton, who currently play in the Fédérale 1.
“As for getting a contract in France I’d say it was grace from the Lord getting me to the right place and the right time. Initially the scout for the team was in contact with Shingirai Katsvere and having a look at his games. Shingirai put in a good word for me as well as Shayne Makombe and the scout liked what he saw, leading to me also getting an offer from Union Sportive Pays de Gex (USPG). After a good season I was blessed with an opportunity to move to Club sportif Nuition where I am currently playing now.”
Mupunga says he has thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to showcase his talent in France.
“Playing in France really has been an answered prayer for me as it was always a goal of mine to play here,” Mupunga said.
“The early days were just difficult due to the language barrier but the team was very accommodating. Once language lessons got underway everything else became easier and I have been enjoying my time playing here. Just the issue of training and playing while it snows was a bit uncomfortable haha but I’ve adjusted well to life here. The rugby is great and the teams have a never say die spirit which always makes for a challenging good game,” he added.