Vultures Boost Ahead Of WC Qualifiers

THATO KALA
Correspondent | Monday June 10, 2013 00:00

 

The Vultures set off for Dakar, Senegal yesterday morning to battle it out for a World Cup spot and promotion to Division 1A of the 2014 Africa Cup.This week's tournament will be held in a semi-final/final format. Vultures' coach Ivor Greaves confirmed the arrival of the duo during the team's final training session on Saturday.'We have two guys from South Africa, who are playing there. They have come back and are fitting in the structures very well,' Greaves told Sport Monitor.

Greaves and his charges had a bad week after failing to practise twice owing to power cuts.The blackout on Friday meant they had to call off their evening session. However, Greaves remains confident the team will put up a strong challenge in Dakar.'We have had a good three weeks now where we had the full squad in training.We also had the guys from north, which has been important for us. it's been good. The guys are working hard.'The Vultures take on former World Cup qualifiers, Tunisia on Tuesday while Namibia plays the hosts.

The winners of the two matches will clash while the losers also meet on Saturday.Greaves is aware Tunisia will be a tricky opponent, but said he is happy Botswana goes in as underdogs.'Tunisia will be tough because they are a World Cup qualifier, they have been to the World Cup and they are professional.They play full time rugby for a living and here we have guys that play this for fun. So it's going to be tough - the form book might say we are the underdogs, but that's ok. I like being an underdog,' he said.

The team will have little time to adjust to the highly humid weather conditions in Dakar with only two practice sessions lined up for today and one tomorrow morning.The Vultures travel without BDF Cheetahs prop Oarabile Chiche, who is out on injury.UB Rhinos' fly-half Tshoganetso 'Shakes' Katse is back to full fitness after struggling with an injury recently. Gaborone Hogs duo of James 'JJ' Harris and Vuyisile Moyo are expected to play an important role for the team.