Online Reporter
Tinashe Kusema
Zimpapers Sports Hub
THE Zimbabwe Schoolboy rugby festival culture is alive and well.
That the biggest takeaway as the St George’s College Nutri-Active Junior Rugby Festival closed down what has been a productive couple of weeks for some of the country’s top and upcoming schools.
This year’s edition, the fourth in their history, attracted schools from across the country, among them the likes of Midlands Christian College, Bernard Mizeki College, Wise Owl, Plumtree, Lomagandi, St Ignatius College, Prince Edward, Churchill High School, Eaglesvale and Watershed.
Marjorie Mutemererwa, National Foods Public Relations Executive
Father Martin Nyadewo, St George’s College Chaplin
Media Tazarurwa and National Foods Cereals Brand Manager
The tournament even received a stamp of approval from title sponsors National Foods Holdings Limited, who bankroll the festival through their Nutri-Active product.
“This is our fourth year supporting the St. George’s College junior rugby tournament and we really treasure the relationship we have built during our short time together,” National Foods chief executive officer, Michael Lashbrook.
“This year, I believe we managed to get as many as 15 schools with the tournament attracting the age groups between 13 and 15-years-old.
“We also managed to get a few primary schools for the second year running.
“The sport of rugby drives discipline, fitness and a whole lot of other good qualities, so if we can play our part in encouraging that then we will,” he said
While many believed the festival culture had died with end of the Mwana Group Schools Rugby Festival, formerly the Cottco and Dairibord Schools Rugby Festival, the last couple of years has seen an influx of new festivals that have come in to fill the vacuum.
Among them are the likes of Milton Rugby Festival, St Johns’ Mukuru Derby Day, BMT Rugby Festival and, most recently, the St George’s College Nutri-Active Junior Rugby Festival.
There have all received a stamp of approval from schoolboy rugby coaches, each noting how they have helped in their preparations for the new season.
Among those is MacLean Muhambi, whose St Ignatius side enjoyed a rare 17-13 victory over Churchill’s Under-15 side during the St George’s College Nutri-Active Junior Rugby Festival over the weekend.
Muhambi believes such festivals have afforded his side the chance to play against teams they would normally not face during the season, thereby giving them more competition.
He also lauded the festival as it gave his team more game time.
“I am very happy and proud of the boys,” said Muhambi after the Churchill victory.
“I think everyone knows the St. Ignatius journey, we come from a predominantly academic-oriented school, so we are trying our level best to make sure that the sporting culture goes up too.
“This is why we are grateful to St George’s for inviting us here
“Obviously, the last couple of years were tough as we didn’t have as many competitive games as we would have liked but now already, we have played four or five games.
“Each team, each age group has played four or five games already before the season starts which is only going to do well for us.
“We hope these more prestigious schools and rugby powerhouses keep inviting us because I think we are putting up a good show and I think it’s only right that we get more spots and opportunities in these festivals.
“The boys have been crying out for some games and festivals like this have given then a great platform to grow and showcase their talent.
“Now, the more games they get, the better it is for us, the school and our rugby programme,” he said.
His sentiments were echoed by Geoff Madhake, the Churchill Bulldogs head coach, who lauded festivals as they are giving his boys plenty of game time.
“I think it’s a really good gesture, a good development that we so many options and festivals nowadays, we really needed that after there was no more the Prince Edward Schools Rugby Festival,” said Madhake.
“It’s important that we keep our kids playing and when we keep them on the field, we keep them away from trouble and more importantly, they get better as rugby players.
“We have had a very productive pre-season as we attended our first festival in was Bulawayo, at Hartsfield, for the Milton Festival.
“We then participated at Lode Brighton, which was also a fantastic festival, after which we had a the Mukuru Derby Day and now the St George’s College Nutri-Active Junior Rugby Festival,
“They have all been fantastically helpful with our pre-season preparations as we would normally three to four games before, but we have already eclipsed that count now.
“It looks like we have played six games before going into the season, which is very good for me as a coach.
“My boys are looking sharper than even and fit,” he said.
