Mat Warriors revert to old name

Senior Sports Reporter
LOCAL rugby club Matabeleland Warriors have reverted to their original name Matabeleland Busters amid plans to play their National Rugby League matches at Busters Sports Club in the near future. Club chairman Kudzai Mudzekenyedzi said the resolution was made to return to their old name after looking at the club’s history. He also revealed plans to make use of Busters Sports Club in two years time after the completion of the necessary renovations.

“We have done away with the name Matabeleland Warriors and we have gone back to being called Matabeleland Busters. The decision was mooted at the end of last season as we felt the need to return to our original name after looking at the club’s history. We are also looking at using Busters as our home ground where there is work being done there, we want the field to be at its best,’’ said Mudzekenyedzi.

Busters changed their name to Warriors in 2012 with the club bankrolled by local businessman and other sponsors attracting some of the best players in Bulawayo. For the past two years, they have used their financial muscle to sign players from city rivals Old Miltonians and Western Panthers.

In 2012 Warriors reached the final of the Lion Lager National Rugby League where they lost 22-19 to Harare Sports Club and last season they bowed out at the semi-final stage of the NRL where they went down to eventual champions Old Hararians.

According to Mudzekenyedzi, Busters have retained most of their players from last season and also bolstered the squad with the addition of prop Irvine Nduwa who was at Panthers last season.
Some of the prominent players at the club are Lucky Sithole, Lloyd Machanjaira, Cleopas Makotose, Brian Dube, Tapiwa Mangezi, Mudzekenyedzi, Jan Ferreira and Courtney Mwatsiya.