Chronicle Editor
Innocent Kurira , [email protected]
FORMER Zimbabwe rugby international, Gerald Sibanda has announced his candidature for the post of president in the upcoming Union elections set for May 25.
He is set to go against the incumbent Aron Jani among other candidates who will run for the top rugby job.
Sibanda who has done well in terms of football development with his partnership with Spanish side Real Betis feels it’s now time he gives to the sport that gave him a name in the sporting fraternity.
“Having played international rugby for Zimbabwe and now having managed to be into sports administration, l feel now is the time for me to give back to the rugby community,” said Sibanda.
On a social media post, announcing his desire to run the rugby board in the country, Sibanda said he wants to see the game grow.
“A call from the land of my fathers. A time to sweat a time to play and now a set time to lead the game I conquered with my brothers, the game I love, our great people of Zimbabwe, to unite the motherland and take Zimbabwe Rugby back to First Class Rugby, let the land heal, oh son of man, son of the soil, God bless Zimbabwe Rugby, Amen,” said Sibanda.
His manifesto has objectives that include growing the women’s game in line with the Government’s philosophy of leaving no place and no one behind. Among his objectives, Sibanda wants to see a professional domestic league, infrastructure development and grassroots development of the game in schools and academies.
Sibanda had a successful career across the Globe between 2006-2018.
He played semi and professional rugby in South Africa, Scotland and Romania, among other countries.
Sibanda is widely celebrated in International 7s Rugby after a decorated World Sevens Series Career between 2007-2012, with the Iconic Zimbabwe Cheetahs team winning Bowls and Shields, as well as Individual accolades notably being the Top Try Scorer at the Sevens Rugby World Cup in Dubai in 2009 for Zimbabwe.
Sibanda was named to the Best Sevens Rugby Team in World Rugby in December 2009.
He has featured in three Rugby World Cups representing Zimbabwe, firstly as vice-captain of the Junior National Team at the Under-19 World Cup in Durban, South Africa in 2005.
He led Zimbabwe to World Cup Glory in 2009, beating Ireland in the final and scoring a try as Zimbabwe won the Bowl to take home a World Cup trophy.
After retiring from rugby as a player, he was appointed assistant manager for the Zimbabwe 7s rugby team in 2018, a year that saw the team participate at the Sevens Rugby World Cup in San Francisco, USA and be Crowned Champions of Africa later in the year.
He is now a celebrated Sporting Legend of the game of Rugby with also 30 appearances for the Zimbabwe 15s team known as the Sables between 2006-2016. — @innocentskizoe
Online Reporter