Rugby returns to Makoni

 

Ray Bande
Senior Reporter

MAKONI District – a rugby talent nursery of repute in yesteryears – is reviving the good old days of the game through a series of tournaments that will kick start with Seven’s competition set for tomorrow (Saturday).

The tournament, which is running under the theme – Rugby for a drug free youth – is being hosted by a local outfit, Makoni Wolves Rugby Club, and will be played at Makoni Country Club.

Makoni Wolves Rugby Club coach and chairman, Pardon Manyengavana said the tourney is going ahead as scheduled.

He said the aim is to revive the game in the district following two decades of inactivity.
Registration is pegged at US$10 per team.

“It is a rugby Seven’s tournament that is open to both gents and ladies’ teams. It will be running under the theme: “Rugby for a drug-free youth”.

 

Our aim is to reawaken the game of rugby that had been dead for more than two decades in Makoni District, as well as lure youths into the sporting code, hence curbing idleness which mostly leads to drug and substance abuse.

“Such a tournament was last played in the early 2002 in Makoni District. The venue will be Makoni Country Club on Saturday. Registration will be US$10 per team. The main focus will be on teams and clubs from Manicaland Province, but also any interested teams based out of the province are free to join for the growth of the game at large,” said Manyengavana.

He said they are targeting to have more than 10 teams for the event.

“We are targeting an average of 10 teams. In Makoni, there are three vibrant clubs, namely Nyazura Wild Cats, Tsanzaguru Offload Oracles and Makoni Wolves. We are expecting to have other teams from Mutare such as Mutare Sports Club, Phoenix, Rock Stars Knights Old Crestonians, among others. Our invitations have gone as far as Masvingo and Marondera.

“As long as a team plays the game of rugby, they are more than welcome to play,” said Manyengavana.

Makoni District has shown potential to produce rugby talent especially in the past, but lack of well-maintained facilities has left youths in the district unable to partake in the game.

A recent takeover of the affairs of Makoni Country Club by a local businessman has shown positive results as the rugby ground is now being maintained for the benefit of local players.