Thrills, spills of rugby U-20 league

 

Ray Bande
Senior Reporter

THE curtain came down on the Manicaland Rugby Under-20 Paramount Garments Javlin League 2025 season last Friday at Mutare Boys’ High School grounds in a fun-filled league closure, with five boys and four girl’s teams competing for honours.

The boys’ teams that participated in the competition include Mutare Boys’ High, Bateleurs, Mutare Sports Club, Knights and Old Crestonians, while Mutare Girls’ High, Rockstars, Eastern Giants and Knights made up the list of the girls teams.

Both winners, Old Crestonians and Eastern Giants walked away with US$1 000 each, while runners-up Mutare Boys’ High and Knights pocketed US$600 each respectively.

To cap it off, each participating team during the season got US$100, thanks to Paramount Garments.

 

Manicaland Rugby Board chairperson, Moss Kapumha said: “We would like to commend Knights for having boys’ and girls’ teams, and also Rockstars as debutants.

“The coming in of Manicaland Rugby Under-20 Paramount Garments Javlin League 2025 was a welcome development. Paramount Garments came in with a sponsorship package, a first for Manicaland Rugby.

“It is worth noting that the provincial board secured this package through being proactive in their planning and administrative procedures. The deal came in with an initial Under-20 sponsorship package of US$8 000, which took care of the ambulance, referees, doctors, media and prize money.

“We thank Paramount Garments for partnering with Manicaland Rugby Board to make this season a success, and for them to appreciate the efforts of each club which participated in the league.”

Bullets from Sahumani did not make it due to lack of transport.

Kapumha said: “We are also reaching out to the local business community in Honde Valley, Hauna and surrounding areas to assist these girls with 1 200 litres of diesel per season. Now, we about to start the senior league to be played again in Mutare, that will also require the same amount of diesel.

“We hope our plea will be heard. They have so much talent, and have produced national players at the Craven Week.”

Meanwhile, on April 5, the senior Manicaland men’s team was in action at the Nedbank Challenge Cup at Harare Sports Club.

Week One, on March 29, saw Manicaland men’s team, in their opening match losing to Pitbulls.

On April 5, they opened the days’ proceedings with a 10-all draw to Under-20 Grassroots, only to be led 15-10 in extra time.

 

Then came the final game against Matabeleland, the crowd saw a spirited come back in the second half from 6-19 down to bring scores to parity at 27-all — only to lose it by three points in the last two minutes – thanks to a coolly taken penalty by Matabeleland.

The final score was Manicaland 27-30 Matabeleland. At the awards ceremony, three Manicaland ladies made it into the lady Sables currently in Ivory Coast for national duty.

These are Rutendo Morosi, Natalia Nyabinde and Tariro Nyamudeza.

The Zimbabwe Under-20 boys national team was also selected in preparation for the Barthes Trophy when Namibia, Kenya and Morocco come for the Tier Two Africa Cup in Harare next week.

 

Dean Makweche from Dangamvura made it into that team.

“It was moments of celebration and joy for all Manicaland supporters and administrators to see such scenes of recognition and appreciation of someone’s honest, genuine hard work in front of the whole nation.

“For Manicaland rugby, we now take a short break from the field to the classroom through the World Rugby coaching courses in five districts of Makoni, Mutare, Nyanga, Buhera and Chimanimani from April 10 to 14, equipping our coaches from schools, clubs, tertiary institutions to be ready for second term when rugby starts from May to July.

“These courses were held free of charge as we need to have more aspiring coaches empowered to execute their duties in a safe and controlled manner.

“Certification is of paramount importance in the sport of rugby. Thanks to World Rugby upskilling policy, and ZRU initiative and drive to have 1 000 new certified coaches every year till 2028, we are on target to achieve this,” said Kapumha.