adminNgoni Dapira Sports Correspondent
MUTARE’S rugby franchise, Mutare Sports Club, has started training sessions ahead of the 2016 National Rugby League expected to kick-off on April 9.
The team has already started its fitness training in anticipation of better fortunes after ending last season as the tail-enders in the Northern Rugby League (Harare League).
Zimbabwe Rugby Union general manager, Sifiso Made, recently said in the absence of a main sponsor, the 2016 NRL would continue to operate the Northern and Southern leagues.
He, however, hinted that not all hope was lost yet as they were still chasing on two potential sponsors that expressed an interest in partnering them.
“There is no main sponsor yet, so we will have to run the decentralised leagues we started last season. However, we have two sponsors that we are optimistic might come on board before the start of the season, but I cannot divulge much information on that at the moment,” said Made.
MSC plays in the Harare topflight league which comprises of the defending champions, Harare Sports Club, Old Hararians, Old Georgians, Old Johanians and Police Defenders, while the Southern topflight league comprises of Bulawayo sides, Old Miltonians, Busters, Panthers and Bulldogs as well as Shabanie from Zvishavane, Gweru Sports Club and the Masvingo Titans.
Delta Beverage’s Lion Lager brand was the official NRL sponsor of the centralised topflight league after they signed a three-year sponsorship deal in 2011.
The contract catered for all the travel expenditures of the eight teams in the topflight league and also provided new kits each season as well as training gear.
Made said the biggest overheads incurred to functionally operate the NRL were transport and referees costs.
Accommodation for all away matches has also been factored in this year, given the increase in road carnages.
In past years under the Super Eight topflight league, transport expenses to cover all the matches throughout the season cost approximately $130 000.
Online Reporter