adminMbachi Mutukula-Maregere Sports Reporter
RUGBY Africa regional development officer, Erick Sitima, has praised Zimbabwe Rugby Union’s efforts to identify and nurture talent.
Sitima is in the country on a follow-up tour to see if Zimbabwe implemented the task they were given in 2013 and yesterday he held a meeting with the ZRU officials.
“Zimbabwe Rugby Union has a very strong heritage and they have been using the sport well,” said Sitima.
“I have been going around visiting and my observation was that the task which they expected to carry out is good, I was impressed. I saw a lot of developments, the centres of rugby as well as the participation of girls in the sport.
“Zimbabwe also has a good platform of improving the sport because there is a lot of participation by schools in the sport,’’ Sitima said. He said Zimbabwe’s rugby history was rich and hailed the ZRU for using that to their advantage.
“In one of the venues I visited, there were a good number of girls, there were 39 girls and the boys were 20.
“How the girls were comfortable with the ball really caught my attention’’.
Sitima, however, observed that the ZRU were also still lagging behind in planning.
“World Rugby has put in place resources, which range from coaching courses, websites, videos which the coaches need,” said Sitima. “I came with 70 balls and I am sure the union will distribute them, these are some of the primary resources, which have been made available.
“Zimbabwe’s communication was not good and that is why I visited again to see what was happening. Tunisia did well, their administration is good.”
Online Reporter