Online Reporter
Tinashe Kusema
Zimpapers Sports Hub
THERE is an argument to be made that Takunda “TJ” Chifokoyo could arguably be the hardest working man in all of Zimbabwe rugby.
The Zimbabwe Rugby union Interim Management Committee general manager has been busy working around the clock to secure the Sables some game time while also attending to the issue of player welfare ahead of the World Rugby Nations Cup later this year.
Chifokoyo was in attendance at the Rugby Africa annual meeting in Uganda last week, during which he helped secure the return of the continental body’s Victoria Cup tournament, which shall feature heavyweights Kenya, Uganda and Namibia.
The trio of Kenya, Namibia, and Uganda, along with Zimbabwe have been the dominant forces in the Africa Cup and the Victoria Cup over the years, with the quartet also perennially leading the African battle for World Cup slots.
“My entire purpose of attending the meeting was to meet my counterparts from the Namibia, Uganda and Kenya rugby unions,” said Chifokoyo.
“We discussed a lot of things with the top agenda being securing some competitive game time for our Sables, and all three nations appeared keen and very interested.
“The last edition of the Victoria Cup also involved Zambia but we singled out these three nations as they generally viewed as the top African nations, outside South Africa, and they will definitely give our boys a good run just before the team departs for the United States of America for the Nations Cup in July,” he said.
While logistics are still being ironed out, the Victoria Cup tournament is set to be played across three weekends, with the tentative dates set for May 30, June 6 and 13.
It will be played on a round robin format and include Namibia, Kenya, Uganda and hosts Zimbabwe.
“We have received the buy-in from all three nations, and all that is left now is to iron out the logistics.
“The good thing is that all three nations now have direct flights into Zimbabwe, which will reduce travel expenses and allow us to fly them in and out for games across those three weekends.
“We also do not want impend into their seasons, so a few dates could be changed here and there,” he said.
Zambia have not been completely abandoned, as they are set to play a locally-based Sables side on March 30 in Harare, presumably at Harare Sports Club.
ZRU have also approached the South Africa Rugby union for the Sables to train and get some game time against the South Africa Under-20 and South Africa A (formerly South Africa Emerging side).
The Sables under the banner Zimbabwe A are also set to play some scrimmage matches against a few South African provisional sides and clubs.
“We are still in the planning phase, but we hope to get the Sables as much game time in time for the July and November international rugby windows,” said Chifokoyo.
“We have already started an exercise to secure contracts for all our players as this will allow us to call them in during the international windows from their respective clubs.
“It’s an ongoing exercise, and we have already reached out to the International Rugby Players Association for assistance and guidance,” he said.
