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Ngqabutho Moyo, Sports Reporter
THERE are fears that the 2015 National Rugby League may not start as scheduled in two months’ time as there is no sponsorship.
Previously, they were sponsored by Delta Beverages under their Lion Lager brand.
After the withdrawal of the sponsorship by the brewing giant, the NRL management was forced to end the championship prematurely.
NRL boss Noddy Kanyangarara said yesterday they were making frantic efforts to get a sponsor for this season.
“The past year has not been good for us, but we have been trying very hard to get a sponsor for this year’s National Rugby League to partner with us,” said Kanyangarara.
He said there was no hope from the companies they had so far approached but he remained optimistic that a sponsor would be found and the NRL teams would be in action.
“We have not yet received any responses from some of the potential partners we approached but we are hopeful that we will get a sponsor soon,” he said.
Kanyangarara appealed to the corporate sector and well wishers who are willing to partner the NRL this year to come board.
“We appealing to the corporate world and well wishers who are willing to partner with us in a move of keeping one of Zimbabwe’s favourite sports alive,” he said.
The Zimbabwe Rugby Union (ZRU) is concerned too about the lack of sponsorship.
Simbarashe Dangah, the rugby motherbody’s spokesperson, said they were working hand in hand with the league to get a sponsor.
“Rugby is one of Zimbabwe’s oldest sporting disciplines and it would be a shame to see it die after all these years, ZRU is also trying to get partners that will sponsor the league this year,” said Dangah.
Dangah said the league was expected to start after the Sevens HSBC Rugby Series are completed in March.
Online Reporter