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Kusile Madlela Sports Reporter
THE Midlands-Matabeleland (Mid-Mat) Rugby League again makes way for the senior national team trials in the capital on Saturday where Zimbabwe North will take on Zimbabwe South.The resumption of the league was put on hold this past weekend to allow for the smooth running of the national Under-19 trials at Falcon College in Esigodini.

Zimbabwe South comprises players from teams that play in the Mid-Mat league.

George Mukorera, coach of the Western Panthers which plays in the Mid-Mat league, said the Zimbabwe South team players would be selected from his side, Old Miltonians, Police Bulldogs, Busters and Gweru Club.

“The Mid-Mat league will be put on hold this weekend for national team selection for an international game against Tunisia on June 13 at Prince Edward High School,” said Mukorera.

“The national team trials will be held in Harare this coming Saturday where a squad of 22 players will be selected to represent the country in this friendly encounter. We have selected players from the teams that play in the Mid-Mat league,” he said.

He said 30 players were currently training with the Zimbabwe South squad but the number would be whittled down to 22 to face Zimbabwe North.

“The squad will accommodate 22 players and we will have the final list of those travelling to Harare on Friday (tomorrow). The team is going to have senior players and junior players because we would like to have experienced players leading the young talent. Most of these young players are still at school and will relish the opportunity to be exposed to top flight rugby and learn a thing or two from the senior players,” said Mukorera.

The Zimbabwe Rugby Union (ZRU), Mukorera said, was still to brief them on the logistics such as travel arrangements, but that had not dampened their preparations.

He said:

“They (ZRU) will make sure the teams will be taken care of during the trials. This will be a difficult game but the team should give it their all.”

Mukorera also indicated that the Mid-Mat league still had no sponsor and they were surviving on the goodwill of individuals who paid the referees and bought refreshments for players.

“There is a big challenge of lack of sponsorship in the Mid-Mat league and that makes it difficult for teams to travel (for away matches). A lot of big manufacturing companies used to sponsor the league but they have now either migrated or shutdown altogether due to the economic challenges,” Mukorera said.