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Petros Kausiyo and Takudzwa Chitsiga
PETER DE VILLIERS says he was charmed by monumental changes unfolding in this country to jump onto the ship and take up an appointment as the Zimbabwe senior rugby team coach.
He described his latest job as the “proudest moment of his life’’ with the title-winning former Springboks mentor pledging to try and turn the Sables into a powerful force on the continent. De Villiers was yesterday officially unveiled as the Sables coach on an initial two year-mandate, with former Zimbabwe captain Brendon Dawson coming in as his assistant.
The 60-year coach, popular for his frank talk on the game as much as for his technical abilities, took charge of South Africa’s Springboks between 2007 and 2011, winning the Tri-Nations in 2009 and a series against the British & Irish Lions that same year.
He also became the first coach to guide the Springboks to victory over New Zealand in Dunedin before he was fired after South Africa’s controversial 11-9 defeat by Australia in a World Cup quarter-final tie seven years ago. In becoming the Sables coach, De Villiers also ended a seven-year absence from a top coaching job since his departure from the Springboks.
Crucially, for the Zimbabwe Rugby Union, their appointment of a high-profile figure like De Villiers underlined the breadth of fresh air that has been sailing in the domestic game since the coming in of Aaron Jani and his leadership. Jani yesterday also indicated that the ZRU would next week announce the plans they have put in place for the revival of the national league.
But yesterday it was all about the Sables as the ZRU unveiled their high-profile technical crew of De Villiers and Dawson – a rare development for the game and Zimbabwean sport in general – with present and past rugby administrators and coaches, the corporate world, the Sport and Recreation Commission, the Zimbabwe Olympic Committee and the media bearing witness.
De Villiers’ immediate task is to guide the Sables through the African round of qualifiers with his first competitive game arriving on June 16 when Zimbabwe host Morocco in their Gold Cup opener.
In keeping with the ZRU tradition, De Villiers was handed the green Zimbabwe blazer by the Sables Organising committee chairman Gerald Mlotshwa, with one of the union’s corporate partners Zimoco availing a Mercedes Benz car, which the coach will be using.
“I believe I am doing the right thing as I wear this green jacket I believe today is one of my best days. People believe in what they do and they are genuine people. As I stand here today we don’t have control over winning and losing… I won’t promise you that we will win everything but that we will be prepared not only prepared but ready to control the uncontrollable.
“We can concentrate and if we don’t do that fate will actually do it for us. The excitement of this country makes me want to be part of the change you are going through and we can become leaders in rugby and everything. I did not come as a saviour of Zimbabwe Rugby, but as a leader and a leader will not do it alone.
“This country will be the leader of sport and through sport we have the ability to serve lives. We need to create a great following for the sport but you cannot do it alone there are people out there we should support we need to put structures in our country that prepare us for success. This is my proudest day of my life and I am here to serve you,’’ De Villiers said.
Jani said their decision to appoint a high-profile national coach was a landmark move in the history of the game in the country.
“Today marks an historical day in the history of sport, in particular, rugby in Zimbabwe. We will look back on the day and realise what a huge day it is. It is a huge occasion it is a statement of intent.
“The rugby fans have endured agonising moments of near misses like defeats to Kenya, Namibia to name a few and today it is an opportunity for us to believe again that we are a winning team a winning nation.
“It is up to us to believe in ourselves that we are a winning team and support our rugby. I am not saying we are going to win the World Cup but we are moving in the right direction and you are going to see results maybe not the World Cup but results.
“The union has set up a highly powered technical committee with comprised of the best brains in rugby and human resources whose mandate was to select a Sables national team coach.
“I have great pleasure to announce that we managed to bring one great rugby man who runs a foundation which covers mentorship for drug addiction, international rugby coaching as well as won the Under-21 World Cup won the Tri-Nations and managed to beat the British Lions for the first time in 12 years.
“In terms of resources when we were appointed the first thing was to set up structures and we appointed Gerald Mlotshwa as the chairman of the committee that was to fundraise for the team’s welfare that is the players’ and coaches and as you can see we have sponsors who are lining up to help,’’ Jani said.
Rugby Africa Gold Cup 2018 fixtures:
June 16: Zimbabwe v Morocco, Namibia v Uganda
June 23: Namibia v Tunisia, Morocco v Kenya
June 30: Kenya v Zimbabwe, Morocco v Namibia
July 7: Kenya v Uganda, Tunisia v Zimbabwe
August 4: Uganda v Tunisia, Zimbabwe v Namibia
August 11: Uganda v Morocco, Kenya v Tunisia
August 18: Uganda v Zimbabwe, Namibia v Kenya, Tunisia v Morocco
Online Reporter