Vultures' preparations in shambles

THATO KALA
Correspondent | Friday May 17, 2013 00:00

With the qualifiers just three weeks away, Vultures' coach Ivor Greaves only had eight players at training on Monday and is yet to play a practice match.Greaves had initially selected 45 players would be trimmed for June 9-15 tournament in Senegal.

Vultures' manager Matthew Gibson said, 'The big issue is players with work and school commitments. It's not always easy to get them off work and school,' Gibson said.However, some players, who spoke to Mmegi Sport on condition of anonymity, gave other reasons. 'Look, I can't train when I know who exactly will be travelling to Senegal whether they trained or not,' said the player. 

Another player said: 'Of course, you have some players who are genuinely held up, but there are those who seem to have lost interest.'The likes of Gaborone Hogs' duo of James 'JJ' Harris and Edward Oosthuizen had hinted on quitting international rugby, but indications are that they may still play if selected.Greaves had the best turnout on Wednesday with 27 players attending the practice session. The team is now training full time with the league on a break.

Last month, the team was dealt a double blow after an injury to prop Oarabile Chiche and the pullout of South Africa's Eastern Free State from a friendly. Earlier, Zimbabwe's Old Miltonians cancelled a trip to Gaborone at short notice.Gibson revealed they were travelling to Mafikeng, South Africa, next week to play a Leopards' feeder side.

'This week and next week we have full training and then we will travel to Mafikeng on Thursday to play Leopards' development side. We will take some players who have not had much game time, who have played two or three games. We will be taking quite a lot of players,' Gibson said.The Vultures are also likely to play one of the Blue Bulls sides before travelling to Senegal on June 9. They kick-off their qualifying series with a tricky tie against Tunisia on June 11.

A big boost for them is the return of UB Rhinos' flyhalf Tshoganetso 'Shakes' Katse from injury.Greaves is aware playing Tunisia in the opening game is a tough start to the tournament and he expects a gruelling encounter.'We are due to play Tunisia in our opening game. They have played in the World Cup before; so we expect a physical encounter,' he said recently.