adminPaul Munyuki Sports Reporter
NEWLY-appointed Zimbabwe Rugby Union director of rugby Brighton Chivandire feels that his job as the man at the helm of the game would only be made easier if all stakeholders co-operate and work for rugby’s development. The modest Chivandire — the most qualified rugby coach in the country as he holds an International Rugby Board Level III coaching certificate — was appointed on Monday and will take over from controversial former Cheetahs coach Liam Middleton who is now Canada Sevens coach.
“We will have to work together with the respective stakeholders and I believe everyone has a role to play to make sure that the game goes in the positive direction. I cannot work in isolation so it will have to take co-operation from everyone,” said Chivandire.
The towering coach has been involved at all levels of the game from playing for the national team where he was a lock, coaching at club, national, schools and age-grade level where he has won several accolades.
A decade ago, he was the Sables coach, but his biggest success came during his time as the Young Sables Under-19 coach where he led the side to three consecutive Junior World Rugby Trophy appearances betwen2009 and 2011, winning the Junior Africa Cups in the process.
However, it was in 2010 that Chivandire graduated with an IRB Level III certificate, making him only one of the two Africans to hold such a high qualification and the former Old Hararians gaffer feels its time he gives back to the country that made him what he is today.
“I do not feel that me being appointed as the ZRU director is a reward of my hard work or a reward of any sort. But I believe that I have to share the knowledge that 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, to develop the Union (ZRU),” said the former Young Sables technical director.
Chivandire’s appointment comes at the back of Zimbabwe’s failed World Cup qualifier campaign where he was the team manager under coach Brandon Dawson and assistant Cyprian “Supa” Mandenge. And qualifying for the 2019 World Cup is clearly his biggest challenge. “It’s difficult to say really but 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. I have been offered a job yes, but I am yet to sign a contract,” added Chivandire.
The ZRU also says that among his major roles, the director of coaching will be responsible for managing the performance and appointment of technical staff oversee the performance analysis of representative teams in Zimbabwe, He is also expected to set out a clear strategy for the development of Zimbabwe rugby’s high performance program over the next years and most importantly manage the playing structure of competitive rugby.
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