Muchinguri donates to rugby team

Mbachi Mutukula-Maregere Sports Reporter
ZIMBABWE women’s rugby team patron Oppah Muchinguri says there is need to pump funds into sport for the country to do well in international tournaments.Muchinguri, who is the Women’s Affairs, Gender and Community Development Minister, said this at the official send-off ceremony held for the women’s team set to take part in the Confederation of African Rugby Sevens Africa Cup in Nairobi, Kenya, next week.

She also donated US$1 000 to the team.

“This ceremony is an opportunity for us to give the best regards to the team ahead of the forthcoming CAR Sevens tournament to be held in Kenya.

“Women’s rugby continues to do well in terms of development as well as playing an ambassadorial role for the country,” said Muchinguri.
“It is not a secret that sport, if well funded, can meaningfully contribute to the well being of the country through job creation for young people.

“We cannot continue to see our rankings go down in most sporting disciplines and we need to take action now if we are to make a lasting impression on the world sporting map.

“I wish to implore the Zimbabwe Rugby Union to adopt a long-term athletes’ development programme for, without such an approach, we will not be able to make it to the highest level of sport.”

Muchinguri urged the ZRU to partner higher national institutions in the search and nurturing of talented players.

“ZRU should partner with institutions of learning as it is through such partnership that we can be able to produce world class athletes,” said Muchinguri.

“I would like to see ZRU partnering with institutions such as National University of Science and Technology and Bindura University of Science Education.

“It is no secret that South Africa’s recent success at the London 2012 Olympics Games was echoed on the partnership with their local universities who through their high performance centres provided scientific advice to the technical teams.

“I also thank the corporate world for consistently supporting rugby in the country. I urge all the players and officials who represent Zimbabwe to keep up the good sporting spirit.”