adminJeffrey Murimbechi Sports Correspondent
FORMER Zimbabwe Sables manager Losson Mtongwiza has quit all forms of rugby. He has been under pressure from the tension in the Zimbabwe Rugby Union in recent days after he questioned several aspects of the way it was being run. Recently, his letter to ZRU president John Falkenburg was leaked to the media and torched a storm in the game.
Mtongwiza has been in the senior rugby national teams’ set-up since 1996, played and coached Harare Sports Club in 1999 and went on to manage the club a year later.
“I have taken a decision to step aside and allow our team the Sables time to regroup and prepare for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers with the least of distractions,” said Mtongwiza.
“It is something that I have thought about since November last year, I felt that I was keen and quite strong enough to go all the way to the World Cup.
“I felt that the changes that came about when the union decided to change contracts for the World Cup, from the 21st of July, is really just cutting it too short.
“It will be right in the middle of the qualification should we not come out as top seeds in Madagascar.
“I feel I need to give the union enough time to go out and find the replacement that they want to use all the way to the World Cup, it will be unfair for me to just come back of the first of July and walk away.”
Mtongwiza said the publication of his leaked personal letter, in the media last week, was the last straw.
“The Press has greatly affected my decision; I felt that the letter being leaked in the Press really hurt my reputation,” said Mtongwiza.
“The story mentioned one person (John Falkenburg) who I was trying by all means to show that they are spacing this whole thing along racial lines, they shouldn’t do that and it’s not good for rugby.
“With hindsight, I realise my mistakes, in first writing the letter, and then agreeing to sending a letter whose contents I only intended for the receiver to view, interrogate, offer a response and guide my signature on the new contract.
“I accept my mistakes and apologise unreservedly.
“In my letter I had all the right intentions to stir up a debate that had happened among many black administrators while keeping the conversation within our corridors.
“ I still stand by the contents of my letter and would have wanted to pursue a discussion to find a lasting solution but, with the letter having been leaked and used by someone else to further their own agenda, over and above my apology I choose to retire from all senior Rugby with immediate effect, including being chairman of Old Hararians.
“While this is leaving on a rather sad note I accept my poor judgment and would like to take responsibility for it.”
Online Reporter