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Sisa Sihwa, Sports Reporter
MATABELELAND Warriors dominated the 2017 Bulawayo Metropolitan Rugby Board Awards ceremony which was recently held at Hartsfield Grounds.
A total of 19 accolades went out to individuals associated with Matabeleland Warriors which included the senior men’s team of the year in the fifteens category, the Sevens Team of the Year and Coach of the Year.
Irvine Nduwa, Tarisai Mugariri and Nelson Madida, all from Warriors each walked away with three awards for the Sables fifteens category, Cheetahs sevens category, Best Forward Player, Best Backline for the Fifteens and Player of the Year in the sevens category respectively.
Ruben Kumpasa clinched the Sables fifteens award for assistant coach, while Gilbert Nyamutsamba bagged three awards for Coach of the Year in the men’s fifteens category, the Cheetahs Sevens Coach award and the BMRFB 2017 Honours award.
Thembelani Ncube from the Bulldogs received an award for the Most Improved Coach in the fifteens category, while Jafet Ndebele of Warriors clinched the Coach of the Year award for the sevens category.
Simbarashe Dangah won the Zimbabwe Cheetahs Sevens Manager of the Year, while George Mukovera clinched the Zimbabwe Women Head Coach award.
Michael Zvavakapano, Leeroy Muchivete and Elisha Muzondo walked away with Referee of the Year, Most Improved Referee and Junior Referee of the Year awards respectively.
The BMRFB Media accolade was awarded to Sunday News Senior Sports Reporter Mehluli Sibanda.
Former Sables coach Brendan Dawson was the guest at the colourful ceremony which was also attended by BMRFB chairman Thulani Tabulawa, Zimbabwe Rugby Union vice-president South Martin Shone and Kudus Referees Association vice-chairman Trevor Chapenga.
Dawson commended the work done by BMRFB in hosting such an event.
“The indication of this event is that the rugby board is trying to bring back rugby which has slumped down in the Matabeleland region, but the board is seeking to revive the rugby culture which is positive and outstanding,’’ he said.
The former Sables skipper challenged players who did not receive awards to strive for recognition in the coming seasons.
“I would like to urge the players who did not get awards at this event to apply their utmost effort in the field and feel the hunger to succeed, in order for them to be recognised in the next coming seasons,’’ he added.
Shone said the main aim of the event was to honour individual and teams who did well during the season.
“The awards ceremony is a chance for the board to give gratitude to those individuals and teams that have contributed tirelessly to the Union over the past season.
I would also like to thank the board for the tremendous work that they have done during the season and the work they continue to do behind the scenes which goes unnoticed,’’ Shone said.
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