Andrew
Sports Reporter
THE country’s biggest rugby showcase, the Dairibord Schools Rugby Festival, continues to be haunted by the lingering coronavirus pandemic.
Traditionally hosted by Prince Edward School in Harare, the festival had been pencilled in for the end of this month, but organisers have had to put it on ice once again.
Apparently, Government has not given the greenlight for the festival to continue.
Prince Edward School sports director Tawanda Jimu, who leads the organising team, said the postponements are a blow to aspiring rugby players.
“We still cannot go ahead with the festival due to the pandemic.
“Our major stakeholders are schools and the Government, and we have not been given the greenlight by Government for schools to resume sporting activities, which is a big blow to boys and girls who had the dream of playing at one of the biggest rugby showpieces in the world,” Jimu said.
“The showpiece exposes their talent and broadens their opportunities.
“The festival is a pre-season tournament, so if we are to get a greenlight today, we can only host it next year. It takes a month just to put up fixtures, field preparations, get sponsors on board in terms of budgets and other things.”
Over the years, the festival had managed to attract international interest.
“Yes, we have been on standby. A sponsor from Portugal was just waiting for us to start.
“Indeed, we had more foreign teams from Germany, Portugal and Spain expressing interest to come and we are in constant communication with them.
“Despite Covid-19, let’s not lose heart; let’s continue to work hard. Soon we will be back in the field doing what we love best.
“One day the sun will rise again and Dairibord Schools Rugby Festival will be back,” added Jimu.
The competition usually provided an opportunity for players to make it into the national team squad that would participate at events such as Craven Week and the Grant Khomo tournaments in South Africa.
It also has been a platform through which a host of players launched rugby careers that led them to stardom.
But with the latest setback, it means schools are now into the third year without the popular festival, which had in recent years embraced teams from rural schools.
Online Reporter