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Tinashe Kusema
INCUMBENT president Aaron Jani believes that continuity and his “proven track record” should leave him in good stead when the Zimbabwe Rugby Union’s electoral college votes for a new executive this weekend.
Jani will have to shake off the challenges of one of his current deputies Losson Mtongwiza and fellow former Sables internationals Gerald Sibanda and Gilbert Nyamutsamba.
The ZRU boss believes that the successes of his administration and the importance of continuity should carry the day at the end of May 25 indaba.
Yet his decision to seek re-election came at the 11th hour and reportedly at the behest of some key rugby stakeholders, who requested him to stay on.
“Well, the decision to run for re-election came very late indeed and it was only after I was approached by several stakeholders, who said that it was important that I continue with the legacy and ensure that we have some form of stability going forward,” said Jani.
“That was the main reason why I decided to come into the race and run again.
“Another important factor is the issue of continuity. We have seen, historically, the challenges that come into effect when you get the wrong administration into office.
“You tend to go backwards and getting back on track can take ages.
“You can destroy rugby overnight or in one fell swoop,” he said.
Jani presided over a difficult period for rugby and most of the contact sports in particular with the Covid 19 pandemic halting the game for close to three years.
He had come into office at a time when Zimbabwe’s relations with World Rugby had taken a down turn with the global body reducing its financial support to the country.
Jani argues that his executive has scored a host of successes that would need to be guarded.
“If you look at the issue of our grant from World Rugby, it was halved several years ago and it has taken more than fours to get it restored.
“So, it is those kinds of things that are very important in terms of continuity, and we need to guard and protect such gains.
“We brought in stability to the union; we have managed to go a long way towards unifying all stakeholders.
“Yes, there are still pockets of discontent but that is to be expected and normal.
“Our grant was halved because of maladministration and we have managed to restore it. We are now back to the full grant alongside nations like Kenya, Uganda, and Madagascar, which is a very big positive,” he said.
Jani added that his administration inherited a shell as there were no computers, or desks at ZRU following the forgettable era under Nyararai Sibanda.
Despite being pegged back by Covid, Zimbabwe returned and successfully host the 2023 Rugby World Cup qualifiers for Africa at Old Georgians, while the Sables came agonisingly close to qualification for the global show-piece befalling at the final qualification tourney in France.
The ZRU also recently hosted the Rugby Africa Under-20 2024 Barthes Trophy at Harare Sports Club.
“We have managed to capitalise the union in a way as we now have a CEO (chief executive officer) reporting to Rugby Africa, and we now have the equipment required to host tournaments and reduce the cost of hosting too.
“We managed to get the structures in place as we have the Under-20, academy that it goes and the different sponsorships that the rugby community has managed to harness and increase.
“We have managed to maintain largely our sponsors that have been with us and, in some cases, we have even managed to increase that number,” he said.
Jani, who was elected Rugby Africa’s treasurer last year, indicated that his camp will be banking on a host of success stories ahead of the elections.
“I am very happy with the preparations that I have done; there are different types of campaign strategies and we (Jani camp) are happy with the one we have chosen.
“There is no better strategy than a good track record, and I think this is the main thrust we are working with.
“People know what is possible and what we have done, and I am hoping that my track record will speak for itself,” he said.
Online Reporter