KENYA U20 rugby team, Chipu, defeated Zimbabwe’s Young Sables 28-13 to win the Barthes Trophy at Harare Sports Club’s Machinery Exchange Stadium on Sunday.
This victory secured their position in the Rugby World Cup U20 in Scotland and earned them a place in rugby history. It marks their third appearance in the esteemed event since 2019.
The journey to victory was not easy for the East Africans and as underdogs, they faced challenges such as limited preparation time.
However, their perseverance paid off in the end.
Young Sables took an early lead of 10-0. However, Chipu made a comeback and scored their first try through Iddo Kuta, making the score 10-7 in favour of Zimbabwe.
However, the East Africans maintained their momentum despite a yellow card for hooker Bramwel Anekea. They scored two more tries through Michael Wamalwa and Patrick Wainana, ending the first half with a 17-10 lead.
In the second half, Kenya continued to dominate and extended their lead with a converted penalty by James Olela, making it 20-10. Although Zimbabwe attempted to make a comeback with a penalty kick by Benoni Nhekairo, Chipu’s defence held strong.
Kenyan player Andy Cole Omollo sealed the deal with a try, securing their victory at 28-13.
After delivering impressive performances, Kenya’s U20 rugby team emerged victorious in the 2024 Barthes Cup tournament. They secured a thrilling 34-28 win over Namibia and dominated Tunisia with a score of 56-23.
Zimbabwe’s Young Sables failed to defend the Barthes Trophy on home soil, and Shaun De Souza, Zimbabwe Rugby U20 head coach, expressed his frustration over the lack of motivation for the team.
“We need to incentivise these boys. They’ve been working hard since November last year, and this was their third attempt at the trophy, but they have nothing to show for it,” De Souza lamented.
“Their parents have made sacrifices, and these boys deserve recognition. Let’s show some decency and give them the reward they deserve.”
It was a bittersweet moment for both teams, as Kenya celebrated their historic victory and Zimbabwe reflected on their shortcomings. However, it also drew attention to the need for better support and investment in rugby, particularly at the junior levels, to prevent promising players from leaving the country.
