Chivandire begins work

Paul Munyuki Sports Reporter
BRIGHTON Chivandire’s journey as the director of rugby in the Zimbabwe Rugby Union starts today and the former Sables lock has a huge task ahead of him as he replaces Liam Middleton who has joined Canada Rugby.

His contract starts on the same day that the local Sevens Summer Series get underway at Harare Sports Club and Bulawayo’s Hartsfield Rugby Ground as a build-up to the Africa Cup set for Harare at the end of the month.

Today, he will probably be at Harare Sports Club, but his first official call at the ZRU headquarters in Alex Park is set for Monday.

Chivandire, the most qualified rugby coach in the country as he holds an International Rugby Board Level III coaching certificate, is looking forward to the challenge.

“I do not feel that my being appointed the ZRU director is a reward of my hard work or a reward of any sort,” said Chivandire.

“But I believe that I have to share the knowledge I have amassed over the past years with the rest of Zimbabwe.

“It would be of no use keeping this information or knowledge to myself yet I know that it can be used to better our game as Zimbabwe and to develop the Union (ZRU).

“I am excited because everything at the Union right now looks so positive and everyone would be happy to be part of a positive (minded) family.”

Chivandire feels no one is bigger than the game.

Before his appointment as the ZRU director of rugby, Chivandire was developing the marginalised women’s game, where there is a lot of potential as he worked closely with women’s committee chairperson Abigail Mnikwa throughout the country.

A decade ago, he was the Sables coach, but his biggest success came during his time as the Young Sables Under-19 coach when he led the side to three consecutive Junior World Rugby Trophy appearances between 2009 and 2011.

They won the Junior Africa Cup.

In 2010, Chivandire graduated with an IRB Level III certificate, making him only one of the two Africans to hold such a qualification and Chivandire feels it’s time he gave back to the country that helped him become what he is today.