Let’s grow rugby from grassroots level: Makotose

FORMER Sables versatile backliner, Cleopas Makotose says the only way to improve the rugby standards in the country is through proper training of players at grassroots level.

Makotose through his MO15 Rugby Academy held a two-day training camp at Gifford High School, during the week.

The camp was made possible by former Sevens international, Gerald Sibanda.

Part of the coaches at the training camp were rugby legends: Victor Olonga, Brendon Dawson and Denford Mutangamira.

Thirty rugby players under the age of 21 attended the camp, which Makotose said was successful.

“I’m working with the kids just to enhance their rugby playing skills and hopefully that will help them in the future. It has been a good camp and l am grateful to the coaches who have come through to work with the kids. We hope this is the start of something special. This is a platform where we focus on individual skills and small things a player needs to work on to become a better player,” said Makotose.

He says the country can produce better players, with more training camps.

“I don’t know if many of these camps are happening regularly because they are key to the growth of our rugby. It’s the first time l am coming out to do this and it is nice and the players have shown enthusiasm. Training players at the grassroots level makes the job easier for whoever is the national team coach,” said Makotose.

Sibanda who sponsored the camp said he was pleased to be giving back to the rugby community.

“I am happy to be back in my rugby hometown. This is a city that made me. I made my Sables debut at Hartsfield in 2006. I am happy to come to Bulawayo and give back to the game of rugby. The idea is to see the game grow and give the kids an opportunity to express themselves under fantastic conditions. We are happy to partner with the MO50 Academy, which is led by Makotose. The most important thing is, we have to show the communities that we care. We have to show the communities we have the vision to have the country grow as one of the best rugby-playing nations in the World. We have to show the young ones that we are an international rugby nation,” said Sibanda.

Sibanda played semi and Professional rugby Union in South Africa, Scotland and Romania among other countries. He is widely celebrated in International Sevens Rugby after a decorated World Sevens Series Career between 2007-2012, with the Iconic Zimbabwe Cheetahs team, winning Bowls and Shield Trophies, as well as individual accolades notably being the Top Try Scorer at the 7s Rugby World Cup in Dubai 2009, for Zimbabwe. Sibanda was named in the Best 7s Rugby Team in World Rugby, in December 2009.

—@innocentskizoe