adminPaul Munyuki Sports Reporter
FAVOURITES Old Georgians might have booked a place into the Gold Cup playoff final after ailing giants Harare Sports Club yesterday pulled out of the tournament citing communication irregularities.
The two sides were set to clash in the semi-final play-off but the Harare Province Rugby League champions pulled out on the grounds that they were not officially notified that the dates were brought forward by two weeks.
Harare Sports Club chairman and former Sables scrumhalf Donald “Brasco” Mangenje said they have resolved not to take part in the tournament and have since advised the ZRU.
“For now we have stopped taking part in the Gold Cup semi-finals and as a (Harare Sports Club) board that is the decision we have reached because the tournament dates were changed without our knowledge.
“We only got to learn of the developments through the grapevine because there was no official communication from the ZRU. Not to give any excuses but the World Under-20 Trophy was played at our home ground and we were not able to train during that period and it would only have been fair if we got more time ahead of the semi-finals,” said Mangenje.
However, communication from Harare Province board and the Zimbabwe Rugby Union shows that all clubs were notified of the changes.
“I personally made the communication to the clubs and Harare Sports Club were one of the teams that said they were okay with the changes and that was the feedback I gave to the ZRU with regards to the subject,” said Harare Province interim chairman Tungamirai Mashungu.
ZRU vice-president Noddy Kanyangarara yesterday said communication had been disseminated to the clubs through their respective provincial boards and they received feedback that all the clubs were happy with the dates.
“Information on the change of dates was sent out to the clubs through their provincial boards and the feedback we received was that all the teams were okay with the dates.
“Bookings have already been made for tournament and officials who are coming to Zimbabwe for the semi-finals and that is what we are going on with this weekend,” said Kanyangarara.
After the inclusion of Zimbabwean rugby into the South African Rugby Union club structures, one local side will play against the South African clubs, with Zimbabwe expected to host at least two home games in the second and third rounds in September and October.
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