adminpromised nothing less than a fun-filled festival. In spite of the attendance being low the build-up was boosted by a competitive momentum put on by the teams that participated on the very first day.
Celebrating its 15 years of Cottco running under the theme “Bigger Better and Brighter”, the festival encouraged women’s participation in the game this year. In addition to the traditional boys’ teams, this year the there were 13 girls’ teams participating.
These included Girls High, Vainona Girls High, Roosevelt and Eaglesvale.
The teams came well prepared and played with speed and strength as if their lives depended on it, giving fans a great time.
Roosevelt played against their Vainona counterparts, the Swazis, and lost 46-0. Roosevelt felt that the first game was tough but it was also an eye-opener prompting them to up their game. Team captain Chelsea said the team would work harder in future.
“We were thumped due to a few hiccups. Key players like Chikomborero Muchinguri was injured, other players being hesitant to tackle but we are going to iron all those crises out. We promise better results now that we know what it takes to win this competition,” she said
While celebrating a big win from the start, Swazi captain Hlegneiwe Maphosa was impressed with the results.
“Our first match was impressive; Vainona is bringing fireworks this year. We intend to win with a 70-80 scoreline,” she said.
The main target of the girl’s teams this year is to be a top team.
Unlike in other years were girls were passive participants only attending Cottco as part of the spectators the girls teams are representing the girl child.
Girls High collected a second win on Wednesday against Roosevelt 17-0. Today it is the battle of giants according to the Lioness captain. George Stark from Mbare thrashed Eaglesvale 32-0.
Also soaring high were Mufakose 1 High who beat Morgan High by a 12-7 scoreline. Tafara High 1 won against Dzivarasekwa 1 High 10-5.
Glen View Royal College beat Sobhukazi of Bulawayo 7-0.
Though the final matches had not been played at the time of writing, the matches that the girls have played so far displayed good sportmanship demonstrating that it pays to include the girl child in disciplines that were once regarded as the preserve of the boys.
This year’s rugby festival has been a hoot, thanks to all the teams that participated. The organisers did well; the challenge now is to include more girls’ teams in the next rugby festivals.
Online Reporter