admin
Ray Bande
Senior Reporter
FIRST it was the astounding girls of Sahumani Secondary School from deep down in the thickets of Honde Valley in Mutasa District of Manicaland.
And now 78km from Mutare and 23km from Rusape town in Nyazura area, a new rugby club, Nyazura Rugby Club also known as Nyazura Wild Cats is getting over its infancy.
Manicaland Rugby Board (MRB)’s current motto till 2024 which reads – Rugby for all – is meant to dovetail into Government’s National Development Strategy (NDS1) through Sports and Recreation Commission’s (SRC)’s increased participation drive.
The architect of Nyazura Rugby Club project – Lucias Chinzvende – narrated the processes that led to the formation of the club.
“Nyazura Rugby Club started sometime back in 2015 after realising the need for broadening some sporting activities in our community. My son had a passion for rugby and I introduced it at St Jude’s Primary School in Nyazura.
“With the concept of Catch Them Young, the game has developed so well, with the first crop of kids now playing for the club’s Under-20s,” said Chinzvende.
He said resources are hindering the progress of the project.
“The club is progressing slowly due to lack of sponsorship. We are self-sponsored. We participated in the 2017 Minister of State’s Trophy at district level.
“We are now participating in the Manicaland Rugby Board tournaments and this has given our players significant game time. We are happy that some of our products were recognised and attached to other clubs like Gweru Sports Club and South Africa-based clubs such as Mudikani Chinzvende who is with Gweru Sports Club and Tonderai Buwerimwe at Empangeni Rugby Club,” he added.
MRB chairperson, Moss Kapumha said: “As Manicaland Rugby Board, the plan was to start with schools retaking up the sport from NAPH and NASH in all districts. The players will then feed into the clubs.
“At club level, there was a huge gap as most clubs were in the urban areas like Mutare and Rusape. So through a campaign dubbed giving back to grassroots, we had volunteers who played the sport, some who are currently playing and coaches helping in its implementation.
“That is how clubs like Nyazura Rugby Club were born. Clubs like these help to keep learners and adults busy. We all know where an idle mind leads to.
“Players in these community clubs learn different skills like teamwork, discipline, integrity and respect among others. The more community clubs we have in our districts, the more we will increase competitive games throughout the province. That means we will have to work on better standards of play and the technical aspects of the game,” he said.
“If my memory serves me right, Nyazura last had a club in the 1990s, made up of farmers. So it is close to 30 years with no rugby in Nyazura.
“The spill-over effect is that we will have more rugby coaches coming up to take these coaching jobs per district which is good because it exposes the game to different coaching styles within the province. Increased participation also brings about that spirit to perform at a better level as players, clubs and coaches. In the last three months, Manicaland witnessed the re-emergence of five new clubs from four different districts such as Chimanimani and Chipinge.”
Kapumha added: “We are talking about over 30 years of no rugby in Chimanimani and over two decades in Chipinge. Mutasa District has a club at Hauna Growth Point using Ruda Police Station ground.
“These new clubs have a challenge with equipment like rugby balls, cones, ladders, bibs, jerseys and boots so that they can play competitive games and have structured practice sessions.
“Transport funds are also needed. We appeal to all those in the diaspora and local corporates to assist these clubs from marginalised areas, both men and women so that they stay fit and occupied, while playing the sport they love. Let us not leave anyone behind.”
Kapumha said the process is aimed at turning Manicaland into a powerhouse of the game of rugby.
“The ultimate goal is for Manicaland rugby teams to win national club competitions, have schools leagues as well as top coaches and national team players.
“For the World Cup 2027, 2028 and 2031, we expect to see a few players from Manicaland in the Sables and Cheetahs colours for men’s, women’s and Under-20 teams,” said Kapumha.
In a separate interview, Josiah Borerwe, the chief executive of Sports Development in Manicaland, a sport development arm created through the Sports and Recreation Commission, said: “I am very pleased with this trajectory. Rugby is now being played in areas that used to be considered to be remote. We want to give all kids equal opportunities so that they showcase their talents and exposed to once regarded as elite sports.
“Rugby for all mantra is key, and we must take rugby to the people. Rural areas are also producing good rugby players since most kids walk long distances to school, hence exercising all the time. They also work in the fields, gardens and so on, therefore, their fitness levels are very high and we need to capitalise on that. I have a good case study of Sahumani Secondary School girls’ rugby project. They have been excelling more than their urban counterparts.
“We need to donate rugby equipment to these schools since most heads are fond of netball and soccer. More rugby coaches must also be send to rural areas so that they help in rugby development. We want to give all kids equal opportunities,” said Borerwe, himself an old hand in rugby administration in particular and sport in general.
Online Reporter