For the first time since 2022, Old Hararians U20 Rugby Club has clawed its way back to the Paramount Garment League final, setting the stage for a titanic showdown against the seven-time reigning champions, Pitbulls, this Saturday, the fifteenth of March, at Harare Sports Club. This resurgence marks a significant turnaround for a side that, for two consecutive seasons, found itself scrapping for third-place playoffs while rivals Old Georgians and Pitbulls dominated the silverware. Now, with grit and growing maturity, OH U20 stands one match away from rewriting their narrative.
OH’s 2025 campaign has been defined by resilience. Just two setbacks—a 34-25 loss to Old Georgians and a 24-12 defeat to Pitbulls—tested their resolve. Yet, when the stakes peaked, the young guns delivered. Their nail-biting 24-22 semi-final victory over the Steelers exemplified their tenacity.
This mental fortitude has been a hallmark of their season. Unlike previous years, where lapses in concentration cost them crucial moments, the 2025 squad has shown an ability to thrive under pressure. Their forward pack, anchored by a formidable front row, Tanatswa Soda, Tafadzwa Magada, and Dean Chisi, has provided the platform, while their backline—led by a creative fly-half, Tatenda Kamubvumbi—has exploited gaps with precision.
Adding to the weight of expectation is the towering legacy of OH’s senior men’s team, which has clinched four consecutive Paramount Garment League titles. The U20 side, while proud of this heritage, has long operated under the unspoken pressure to mirror such success. Falling short in recent years had cast a pall over the club’s youth development pipeline. Now, Saturday’s final offers not just a shot at glory, but validation that OH’s future is in capable hands.
Standing in their way are the Pitbulls, a juggernaut that has redefined dominance in Zimbabwean age-grade rugby. Unbeaten in 2024 and relentless in 2025, their blend of structured play and explosive counterattacks has dismantled even the most organised sides. OH’s previous loss to them this season will serve as both a blueprint and a motivator. Pitbulls’ set-piece efficiency and defensive cohesion remain their trademarks, but OH’s semi-final grit suggests they’ve learnt to weather such storms.
Key to OH’s strategy will be stifling Pitbulls’ breakdown dominance and exploiting their occasionally vulnerable wide channels. Discipline, particularly in conceding penalties within kicking range, could prove decisive.
For OH U20, this final is more than a match—it’s an opportunity to step out of the shadows. Victory would not only end Pitbulls’ reign but also signal a resurgence for a club whose pedigree demands excellence. For head coach Shelton Chiuswa and Tichfara Makwanya and their staff, it’s a chance to cement their project’s progress after years of near misses.
As Saturday approaches, the question lingers: Can OH’s blend of hardened forwards and enterprising backs topple a dynasty? Or will Pitbulls’ experience and aura of invincibility prevail once more? One thing is certain—Harare’s rugby fans are in for a spectacle.
Photo provided by Old Hararians Rugby
