daniel chigunwe
Sports Reporter
IN keeping with their thrust to spread and develop the game across the country, the Zimbabwe Rugby Union in conjunction with their Chitungwiza affiliate, will today host a maiden invitational tournament that is expected to lay the foundation for talent identification in the sprawling town.
Chitungwiza is largely famed for being a football talent hub with numerous of some of the country’s finest footballers having been bred in the town.
Some of the notable football names from Chitungwiza, who would immediately come to mind include Kalisto Pasuwa, Norman Mapeza, Lloyd Chitembwe, Alois Bunjira, Stewart Murisa and Gift Muzadzi.
From the current crop playing their trade in the Premiership, there are such players like Highlanders’ Divine Mhindirira, Talent Chamboko of Ngezi Platinum and CAPS United’s Ralph Kawondera.
But today, the country’s third largest sport, rugby is set to begin a journey towards harnessing some of the untapped talent in Chitungwiza.
The competition dubbed the Southern City Invitational and which will be at Damview hotel, will feature 10 teams including some of the domestic game’s giants Harare Sports Club and Old Hararians.
Pitbulls, who have emerged a dominate force in the Paramount Under-20 league are also expected to feature as will Mutare Marondera Talons, Zimbiru, Police defenders and hosts Southern City.
Chitungwiza chairman Carlton Majuru told Zimpapers Sports hub of his excitement with the tourney and the prospects of growing the game in this vastly populated town.“The Invitational tournament for Southern City is meant to open up another avenue for rugby in Chitungwiza.
“Chitungwiza has a population exceeding a million plus people so I think there is huge potential and massive talent in the town,’’ Majuru said.
While the veteran administrator is in no doubt about the big chance to tap into the abundant rugby talent in Chitungwiza and its environs, it is the lack of facilities that is worrying him.
“What we lack is decent facilities for the game. In fact, we do not have, so we got this place which we are trying to spruce up for the game.
“That will be the centre for the game in the town and hopefully all the schools can utilise the venue.
“It is not the best facility in the world at the moment but at least teams can play rugby and we can also make sure that over time, may be by the end of the year, it will be a better facility comparable to the likes of Old Hararians and Harare Sports Club.
“So, we have 10 teams that we have invited’’.
Majuru is also hopeful that the tourney will help raise awareness about the game in the town and in the process lure more followers apart from just the talent identification exercise.
“It is an Invitational and the idea is to get our own partners to come through and play and get our local supporters to come through… raise awareness for the game in the town which I believe can over time become the biggest rugby hub in the country.
“If we take it to the people and that is what we are trying to do, take it to the people then we won’t go wrong.
“What we are lacking are the resources to make the facility to be what we want it to be but at least we are trying the best that we can.
“I believe that with the right support and also the support of our partners, the ZRU, Harare province and all the other stakeholders, potential commercial partners might come through.
“We want to use the facility for our league games come May thereabouts so that we won’t have to travel to Harare for our home matches,’’ Majuru said.
Online Reporter
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