Nyamutsamba lauds Pekani

Nyamutsamba travels with the Cheetahs to Hong Kong this weekend.
“I had a look at a number of players that were in the Mbare Academy side coached by Pekani and I was impressed with the way the boys played. Last year I had a chance of watching some of them at the Middelburg Sevens representing Zimbabwe Under-16 and the amount of talent they exhibited was awesome.

“If we want to see our game going forward we need to concentrate on such development programmes.
“It is good to see players of that age and from areas like Mbare displaying good skills of the game because this shows that rugby is not about where you come from or how privileged one might be,” said Nyamutsamba.

He said it was necessary to spread the game around.
“This just goes on to show that the game has to be integrated into all areas, and it’s all about developing the player as a person and this gets them disciplined. Playing the game gives them interaction with their peers from different backgrounds and keeps them off the streets. It’s not just about keeping the boys out of the streets but sport has become a career as well,” said the Bulawayo businessman.

One of the finer products to come out of the academy is Njabulo Ndlovu, who will also be travelling with the Cheetahs to Hong Kong for the pre-qualifiers of the World Series core membership games. The former Churchill and Prince Edward flanker believes his life would have been a waste had he not passed through the Victor Pekani-coached academy.
“I had thought of quitting rugby when I was still in school but I was fortunate enough that coach Victor (Pekani) kept on encouraging me and helped me get a scholarship at Churchill in 2007 and that was when my life turned around.

“I think if I had not met him (Pekani) I would just be at home doing nothing but now I am happy that I am one of the players in both the Cheetahs and Sables sides and I have become more of a role model to other Mbare Academy players.

“Going to Churchill and then Prince Edward opened up doors for me because then I was exposed to better rugby and I was recognised just like Stephan Hunduza and Manasah Sita, who also came from the same academy,” he said.