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Tinashe Kusema
Deputy Sports Editor
‘UNDERDOG’ is probably the last word one would use to describe Pitbulls rugby club.
After all, the standard definition of the term is ‘a competitor thought to have little chance of winning a fight or contest’, and the Harare Metropolitan province age-group giants are anything but that.
Since the inception of the project, in 2009, Pitbulls have made quite a name for themselves in age-group rugby.
Their Under-21 men’s team, established in 2017, are yet to lose a single match and have been league champions ever since.
That statistic gets a bit washed down given the fact that the Covid-19 pandemic caused a long lay-off from sport, but the team remains undefeated ever since.
In 2018, the club introduced their senior men’s sevens’ team, that immediately made an impact when winning the Exide National Sevens Tournament two years in a row.
Among the more notable names to come from the project are the likes of Shayne Makombe, Simba Mandioma, Kudzai Mashawi, Lenience Tambwera, Gabriel Sipapate and Blithe Mavesere who have all played for the senior national side, the Sables or the national Sevens outfit, the Cheetahs.
Another Pitbulls protégé – Matthew Owuru — finds himself knocking on the doors of playing for Canada.
In head coach Bob Mahari, the club has one of the brightest rugby brains in the land, and Geoffrey Madhake is no slouch either.
However, that is for the men’s side.
Their women’s side is another story altogether.
After having their long-awaited debut during the just-ended and shortened 2021 season, the Capitalk Pitbulls are every bit the real thing.
A remarkable tale, but an underdog story nonetheless.
The Sunday Mail Sport recently caught up with the club’s team manager, Moriso Jaya, to get an insight into this next chapter of the Pitbulls’ ever-growing profile.
“Women’s rugby is a new area for us to venture into, and as such, we had a lot to learn.
“Thankfully, head coach Nothando Ndlovu has been on hand to help us navigate.
“Just after we launched Capitalk Pitbulls, the Covid pandemic hit and all sport came to a halt.
“This became sort of a false start, and we had to wait for more than a year to enter competitive rugby,” he said.
The Capitalk Pitbulls finally made their long-awaited bow during the just-ended 2021 season, making quite the first impression when they beat the more established Harare Sports Club women’s team.
A few of their players also managed to stand out, top of the pile being Praise Mutandahuruva, who was named Rookie of the Year for her exploits during the Exide Sevens’ Tournament.
Several of her teammates who include Nokutenda Shoriwa, Angela Dirwai, Nyasha Hungwe, Paidamoyo Gwenzi, and Tadiwanashe Ishewedu also made it into the Harare Province Select team.
“Yes, it was a great debut for our girls, and the only way is up for us and for the sport in general,” said Jaya.
“We are very grateful to all those who took the worthwhile risk of sponsoring the various tournaments, namely Paramount Garments, Exide Batteries and Sable Chickens.
“All these sponsors gave us the platform for our girls to play.
“We are also very grateful to the hosting clubs, Harare Sports Club, Old Hararians, Belgravia Sports Club and Old Georgians.
“They looked after us very well and we hope to do the same for them in future”.
The crowning achievements are only a tip of the iceberg for this team and club.
Their work in empowering the girl child is what really sets them apart from the pack.
“As a club, our overarching aim is “to identify young talented athletes and then develop them into elite amateur and professional rugby players,” said Jaya.
“Our girls’ team is so special in the sense that about 50 percent of our players would normally be considered as disadvantaged children, given that they mostly come from St. Marcellin Children’s Village.
“However, the balance comes in that the other half predominantly comes from Girls High School and Chitungwiza.
“We even have a player from Africa University as well.
“It’s been quite remarkable and a pleasure working with them all.
“The goal now is to also instill good values, so that we are not just developing great rugby players but good strong women.
“Women who will one day make great citizens and family people”.
Online Reporter