Elite rugby coaches set to visit Zim

Mbachi Mutukula-Maregere Sports Reporter
ZIMBABWE age-grade rugby is set to receive a huge boost when three legendary coaches from South Africa and New Zealand conduct a week-long coaching clinic at Watershed School next month. The Academy Week is a joint initiative between Kyros Sports and Dairiboard Zimbabwe and will not only take care of rugby players between the ages of 15-23 but also includes a day’s session with local coaches.
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ormer All Blacks, Western Force and Lions coach John Mitchell, former Springboks coach Peter De Villiers, former Sables and Free State Cheetahs flyhalf Kennedy Tsimba, and former Springbok and Stormers winger Tonderai Chavhanga will conduct the camp.

According to the owner and founder of Kyros Sports, Kisset Chirengende, who is also the event director, the camp will cater for all rugby players in the given age range starting with a dinner at Heritage Senior School in Borrowdale on April 13.

At the dinner, Mitchell is expected to give a motivational speech to the players a night before the first clinic that is meant for coaches in Harare.
“The main reason I thought of such an initiative is development, improve the basic skills of our rugby players and give them the confidence that they can achieve a professional rugby career because not many of us have a chance to get into contact with such coaches.

“Our players don’t have to go offshore for better training, we can bring it right here in Zimbabwe and make it accessible.
“It is definitely expensive to bring these guys here (to Zimbabwe) but we have put measures to make sure the camps and clinics are affordable and we also have payment plans for those who want to attend. . .its not strictly on cash basis.

“Our main sponsors Dairibord Zimbabwe through their Yummy Yoghurt brand have been at the heart of making this possible alongside Imba Group of Hotels and our media partners Star FM and without them we wouldn’t be talking about this camp.

“The first thing on the schedule is a US$40 dinner where Mitchell will give a speech and the following day we will have a session for coaches only for US$35 with lunch included and this is filling up fast but we can only take 50 participants,” said Chirengende.