Kanyangarara blasts ZRU

Paul Munyuki Sports Reporter
NATIONAL Rugby League chairman Noddy Kanyangarara has accused the Zimbabwe Rugby Union of destroying their relationship with their principal sponsor, Delta Beverages. Kanyangarara claimed the ZRU sabotaged their sponsorship deal. “I think it is important for people to know why Delta pulled the plug on rugby, resulting in NRL using 2013 prize monies to fund part of the 2014 season and I challenge anyone from ZRU to dispute this.

“In September 2013, NRL submitted its requirements to Delta for 2014-2016 seasons. Our budget was approved but we were waiting to sign the contract.

“Delta were very happy with the way that we had done things in the past season and were willing to increase our sponsorship for the new period.

“The ZRU executive led by the president (John Falkenberg) went to Delta as they wanted to discuss the NRL contract but were turned away as Delta also wanted an NRL representative present in the meeting but because they wanted to do things behind our backs they didn’t tell us.

“On two other occasions, two members of that delegation that was turned away again approached Delta, but still got the same result.

“On December 15, 2013, I got a call from one of the Delta directors informing me they were getting a lot of visits from the ZRU to discuss NRL funding. I was in the dark and didn’t know anything.

“It was during that call that he told me that they are putting rugby (sponsorship) on hold until we put our house in order,” said Kanyangarara.

NRL founding treasurer and former Sables chairman, Bongai Zamchiya, feels the clubs should have done more to keep the league alive.

“In all of this I blame the clubs and the NRL for letting a good thing die. Clubs got lazy and expected NRL to do everything and the NRL forgot that the clubs were the cornerstone of the competition and nothing should have been decided or done without their input.

“When we started NRL (Northern Rugby League) we played week in week out with no money.

“The only club that put in two teams was Districts (Old Georgians).

“They pulled out their second team after a while.

“When we moved to the National Rugby League there was no prize money.

“One year we got fuel from the Union.

“I was treasurer of NRL and we paid referees, ambulances with fuel and clubs got fuel coupons. We played rugby,” wrote Zamchiya.