Andrew
Sports Editor
The bulk of Zimbabwe’s rugby playing schools would ordinarily have been making their annual pilgrimage to Prince Edward for the Dairibord festival, which was due to burst into life tomorrow at the school’s various grounds, including the famed Jubilee field.
But these are not ordinary times.
The festival, just like all local and international sporting events, has been grounded by the coronavirus.
It would have been a week of massive showdowns pitting some of the finest talents in domestic schools rugby.
Over the years, the festival has been spiced by an international flavour, especially from foreign teams that would have been invited.
Some of those intriguing battles included the derby clashes between Prince Edward’s Tigers and the Churchill Bulldogs, St John’s against St George’s and Mbare’s George Stark against Mutoko.
The festival also laid the foundation for even bigger battles such as Falcon hosting Prince Edward in Esigodini and Peterhouse receiving Lomagundi in Marondera.
But with the Covid-19-induced lockdown having been extended, the players and their coaches have been left to ponder on what might have been of the Dairibord festival; international Craven Week in South Africa, which was also cancelled; and the domestic schools season.
Prince Edward’s headboy, Lionel Okoye, probably captured the mood among the learners during the lockdown in his address to his peers.
“I begin this address with the hope that you all are well and healthy, protected and safe from the current strain that has taken the world by storm . . . The streets we recognise to be frantic and busy have been hushed. The places we would gather in to reconnect and enjoy each other’s company; where we would enjoy and find ourselves at peace with others also have been shut down for our safety,” he said.
“Indeed, these are dark times for mankind yet in every shadow of darkness there is a glimmer of light . . .
“We look forward to the power and spirit in our war cries as we stand and sing our hearts to the heavens on the marvellous grand stands on Jubilee field, to the hustle of our Tigers as they take down all who stand against them for the pride and honour of our school. We look forward to our diversity. Most importantly, we look forward to joining the people we have accustomed ourselves to calling our brothers and being a family once more. It is in these times that the torch of our brotherhood burns brighter,’’ said Okoye.
In a typical schoolboy captain’s war cry, Okoye also rallied his charges to remain resolute in the face of the most difficult period mankind is having to endure.
“It is in these times that the Tiger in us, adorned with three distinct colours that hold our identity, lurks about awaiting a reunion of those in the Hararian bloodline. Yet of course, although we are invincible in the face of adversity and walk proud and tall in three stripes of maroon, green and white, it is prudent that we take this time to stay safe, connect more with our loved ones and await the moment we are set to go back out there to take it all and leave nothing. . .
“We simply await the day when we can return to the world hungrier than before and ready to achieve more. Yet the world knows that to us it will never be enough because even after we make history, we would have done so little and still have so much more to do,’’ wrote Okoye.
Online Reporter