Like many Zimbabweans, Tendai Mtawarira is living and working far from home. Unlike most of us, Tendai plays for the Springboks. He is far from the first Zimbabwean to play for the South African rugby side (Take a look at my post on Zimbabwean Springboks) and I am sure he won’t be the last.

I cannot speak for him, but if he is anything like most Zimbabweans I meet, he would much rather be living and working in Zimbabwe. But until things get better, many of us will continue to live in a foreign country, giving them the benefit of our skills and depriving Zimbabwe them.

Last week, I noticed with interest that the South African Sports Ministry has accused the South African Rugby Union (SARU) of poor administration regarding their handling of Tendai Mtawarira’s eligibility for playing for the Springboks.

Apparently “The Beast” as he has been nicknamed was in danger of missing the year-end tour if the Sports Ministry weren’t satisfied with the reasons that a foreign national had been selected for the Springboks. Tendai Mtawarira debuted for the Boks in 2008 after completing his three-year residency and has played 19 Tests and has already toured with the Springboks to the UK last year, as well as Australasia this year and in 2008 and so it is strange that they are bringing up the issue now.

SARU apparently wants to speed up the process of getting Mtawarira’s South African citizenship, by asking a government minister to use his influence.

‘This request to have the Minister use his position to have the process of securing permanent residence and subsequently, citizenship expedited ahead of the year end tour in Europe, has exposed our sport administrators’ clear disrespect or lack of understanding of our laws,’ the ministry said in a statement.

‘Talented as he is, Tendai, like all foreign nationals plying their trade in South Africa, is bound by the laws of this country. The migration laws of our country are clear on issues relating to permanent residence and citizenship. We expect our sport administrators to understand and respect legislation that regulate their business. None of the athletes, sport codes, or federations can be bigger than the country.’

The Sports Ministry also questioned whether Mtawarira is that much better than other looseheads in the country to gain the special treatment that allowed him to tour.

‘While Tendai is a live wire on the field of play, the question is whether it is, in the first place, justifiable to say he has scarce skills – the rationale that would have enabled him to obtain the current work permit. If we go the route our rugby administrators are requesting us to take, and facilitate the fast-tracking of Tendai’s citizenship, what would this say to all rugby players in our country? We cannot as a government department responsible for sport and recreation in this country, afford to insult our players like this,’ added the statement.

‘The principle here is clear: Only citizens of our country can play for our National team, irrespective of the sport code. Therefore, no foreign national can play for any of our national teams, no matter how outstanding they may be. If any player in any code is to become a South African citizen, this has to be done within the legal framework of our country.

‘Federations, provinces and clubs, are more than welcome to approach us for advice on similar issues, instead of trying to slip a player through the legal framework.’

SARU responded by saying they would not comment on the Sport Ministry’s statements.

The Beast

If you are wondering why Tendai is known as The Beast: It had something to do with him being “a bit of a bully” in his primary school days in Harare, Mtawarira has stated. It was also back then, when his huge frame was knocking down smaller contemporaries in a football match, that a local rugby coach thought he might be better suited to the rough and tumble of the 15-man game. It has only been in the past two years, though, that Mtawarira has made a name for himself as a beast of a prop.

The Zimbabwe Cheetahs 7’s rugby side will compete in a tough group in this years Dubai Rugby Sevens tournament.

To be held from the 4th to the 5th of December, Zimbabwe were drawn in the same pool with former champions Fiji, Samoa and Scotland in the 16-team competition. Zimbabwe will go into the tournament with mixed emotions as they managed an impressive run to get to the final  of the recent Trustco international tournament in Windhoek, but then lost heavily to South African in that final ( 14-61).

Zimbabwe’s match against Samoa is will be the second game of the opening day’s fixtures, from there the Zim Cheetahs take on Fiji before meeting Scotland in their final group game.

South Africa have the  number one seed at the Dubai tournament followed by Fiji, England and New Zealand.

Although they did well in Namibia, the Cheetahs know they have to be at their best at the Dubai to progress past the pool stages of the tournament. How well Zimababwe do is also important for them to be considered for more world series tourneys.

IRB Sevens manager Beth Coalter said Zimbabwe could be invited to the Hong Kong tournament should they impress the world rugby governing body in Dubai and in South Africa.

“I am pleased to confirm Zimbabwe’s Sevens team’s participation in the 2009/2010 series in the Dubai tournament (4-5 December) and South Africa (11-12 December). “Following the team’s performance in these two tournaments, Zimbabwe would also be invited to participate at the Hong Kong tournament (26-28 March). “I look forward to Zimbabwe participating once again in this year’s series,” read part of the letter from Coalter.

Cheetahs manager Bruce Hobson believes his side has the potential to impress in Dubai and South Africa and win a call to more IRB events. “We will do our best to be invited to Hong Kong,” said Hobson. “Our Sevens campaign has intensified this year with more interest as a result of the positive things from the Sevens World Cup.” “We have concentrated on developing a squad of 22 players who could be competitive enough to play in the IRB World Series.” “In this respect our Sevens Academy continues to provide the training vehicle for our Sevens throughout the year so that we build on our player base in case of injuries and player non-availability,’’ said Hobson.

Zimbabwe  won the Castle Sevens in Zambia in June, managed their first silverware at the World Cup where they won the Bowl, and were brilliant at the Trustco International where they beat such experienced sides like Argentina and Portugal.

Key players like Cleopas Makotose, Gerald Sibanda, Gordon Pangeti, Wesley Mbanje, Daniel Hondo, Willis Magasa and Ryan Manyika, have recently been missing from the side and it is hoped that they will return for Dubai, so that Zim can field the strongest team possible.

The new faces to look out for in Zimbabwe 7’s colours include Scotty Jones, Bruce Chibesa, Graham Kaulbach, and Busani Ndlovu.

More information on Zimbabwe Rugby: http://www.zimbabwerugby.com

Fast Track, a weekly Round up of African Sports News is produced by the BBC World Service and is presented by Zimbabwean Farayi Mungazi.

The Fast Track show is live on Mondays and Fridays from 4-5pm (GMT) and on Sundays from 6:20 – 6:30pm (GMT). On the show Farayi discusses the issues and asks the questions that every African sports fan wants to hear.

About Farayi Mungazi

He was born in Zimbabwe where he was a sports presenter and commentator for the ZBC before he joined the World Service in 1999 where he works on the sports output for Focus on Africa, Network Africa and the BBC African football website. He says he likes cricket and figure skating and hopes to run the London Marathon one day.

For More details and to listen to his show Live as well as previous episodes, follow this link to the Fast Track Show on The BBC

Samson Muripo created history becoming the first person from an African country to win the Karate World Championship when he claimed gold in the middle weight Kiyokishini Karate in Osaka Japan.

The remarkable performance in Japan earlier this year means he joins other  Zimbabwean sporting heroes like diver Evan Stewart and swimmer Kirsty Coventry by turning himself into a world champion in his chosen sport.

A third Dan black belt holder, Samson is also the African middleweight champion and the technical director of the Mas Oyama Dojo club at Harare’s Raylton Sports Club.  He beat five other karatekas on his way to winning the world championship. He beat Alberto Santamaria of Spain in the first round and then knocked out Degeniyazov Nurken of Kazakhstan in the next round to proceed to the quarter-finals. In the quarter-finals, he beat Herman Laschak of Germany and suddenly he was just two steps away from the gold. Australian karateka Daniel Fox was the next victim, falling in the semi-finals, to give Muripo the ticket into the final.

In the final he went up against local boy Kikuyama Yasumichi of Japan and, once again, Muripo won the bout to capture the gold medal for Zimbabwe in the middleweight division.

The Zimbabwe U19 Rugby team recently beat defending champions Namibia 39-7 in the final played at the Rugby Football Union of East Africa yesterday, to become the new Africa Rugby Confederation Under-19 champions.

The Zimbabwean coach Byron Chivandire said, “They are a very good team (Namibia). We were under no illusion about what they were capable of doing had they got the rhythm. Our plan was to shut them down and leave them with no option to run the ball, run in phases and eventually spread the ball wide.”

Zimbabwen full-back Danny Robertson was also named as the most valuable player of the one-week tournament.

Chivandire urged the organisers to consider revising the format. “Teams need more time to play each other especially at this age. We played only three games and would have loved to play against the other teams for exposure,” he said.

Zimbabwean player, Brendan Chapman said “This was a sweet revenge, for Last years lost to Namibai. We expected it to be a close game and had planned to defend in every department, lock up their forwards and play in the space. Namibia did not give up but exerted pressure upto the last minute. I think they were shocked after we led 17-0. It was also unlucky that their kicker Johan Deysel who had been very accurate in the past matches was not on form today.”

The match was played at a high pace and Zimbabwe barely gave Namibia a chance to settle. Chapman opened the scores in the eighth minute and Farai Mupasiri converted. Zimbabwean lock Schalk Ferreira was yellow-carded by Tunisian referee Bahroun Heykel in the 10th minute but Namibia could not make the numerical advantage count.

Mupasiri who was in a fine kicking form drilled over a drop goal in the 22nd minute to stretch the lead 10-0. Tafadzwa Chitokwindo then scored Zimbabwe’s second try in the 32nd minute and Mupasiri converted for the half time score of 17-0.

In the second half, Namibia were quick off the starting blocks and took only three minutes to make their presence felt when substitute winger Chase Dirgaard broke through to score. A change of kickers saw fly-half Zirk Coetzee slot the conversion from a difficult angle.

It was another seven minutes before Zimbabwe exploded into action and Terrence Kuvarega went over from a good run by the backs. Mupasiri who was in a fine kicking form slotted the conversion.

Schalk Ferreira who had been yellow-carded in the first half then showed surprising speed sprinting past the Namibian backs to score near the post. When Namibian eighth-man Royal Otto was sin binned in the 14th minute of the second half, Mupasiri was on the spot kicking over another penalty to stretch the lead 32-7. Chitokwindo then completed his brace in the 70th minute and Mupasiri converted.

Final score

Namibia 7 Zimbabwe 39 (Half-time: 0-17)

Scorers

Namibia: Tries: Chase Diergaard; Conversion: Zirk Coetzee.
Zimbabwe: Tries: Brendan Chapman, Tafadzwa Chitokwindo (2), Terrence Kuvarega, Schalk Ferreira; Penalties: Farai Mupasiri; Drop goal: Farai Mupasiri; Conversions: Farai Mupasiri (4).

Line ups

Namibia: 15 Johannes Tromp, 14 Richard Ockhuizen, 13 Ashwin Walters (22), 12 Johan Deysel, 11 Russel Van Wyk (21), 10 Zirk Coetzee, 9 Pieter Jansen (20), 8 Royal Otto, 7 Waldo Schaefer (captain), 6 Jaco Wiese, 5 Arne De Klerk, 4 Munee Tjiueza (19), 3 Henk Roets (17), 2 Daniel Van Vuuren (16), 1 Grant Kurz (18); Replacements: 16 Karel Van Heerden, 16 Franklin Bertolini, 18 Gert Henning, 19 Jacob Mare, 20 Pandeni Ueitele, 21 Chase Diergaard, 22 Gift Kamundu.

Zimbabwe: 15 Danny Roberts, 14 Tafadzwa Chitokwindo, 13 Mathew Swales, 12 Johnathan McWade (22), 11 Terrence Kuvarega, 10 Farai Mupasiri, 9 Graham Kaulback (20), 8 Biselele Tshamala, 6 Brendan Chapman (captain), 5 Sasha Halloway, 4 Schalk Ferreira, 3 Richard Sainsbury (18), 2 Tatenda Karuru, 1 Simba Msarurwa (16); Replacements: 16 Tapiwa Rabwi, 17 Brian Makamure, 18 Dimitri Zaverdinos, 19 David Watson, 20 Charles Jiji, 21 Lungile Tshuma, 22 Daniel Turner.

Yellow Cards
Schalk Ferreira (Zimbabwe)
Royal Otto (Namibia)

Charles Coventry equaled the highest individual one-day international score but could not prevent Zimbabwe losing the series against Bangladesh.

Fourth one-day international, Bulawayo:
Bangladesh 313-8 (47.5 overs) bt Zimbabwe 312-8 (50 overs) by four wickets

Coventry fired an unbeaten 194 from 156 balls to equal the total set by Pakistan’s Saeed Anwar in 1997. Coventry fired 16 fours and seven sixes as he equalled Anwar’s feat with his maiden international ton. But with his Zimbabwe side managing 312-8 from their 50 overs, Bangladesh reached 313-6 with 13 balls to spare. The win gives Bangladesh an unassailable 3-1 lead in the series with one match still to play.

Video Coverage of Coventry’s unbeaten 194 from 156 balls:

>> Read Full Story

BULAWAYO: Zimbabwe defeated Bangladesh by 69 runs in the third One-day International at the Queen’s Sports Club on Friday and Hamilton Masakadza hits a maiden one-day century.

Third one-day international, Bulawayo:
Zimbabwe 323-7 (50 overs) bt Bangladesh 254 (44.2 overs) by 69 runs

Masakadza made 102 and shared a fourth-wicket stand of 142 with Brendan Taylor, who was run out for 94. Elton Chigumbura weighed in with five sixes in his unbeaten 61 off 33 balls as the home side totalled 323-7.

Seamer Tawanda Mupariwa and spinner Ray Price then took three wickets each as as Bangladesh were bowled out for 254.

Despite the defeat, Bangladesh lead the series 2-1.

>> Full Report on BBC News