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Ricky Zililo, Senior Sports Reporter
THE Zimbabwe Rugby Union will officially launch its Under-23 Academies in Bulawayo tomorrow whose excelling players will be recommended to top clubs in South Africa as well as senior national teams.
Aaron Jani, ZRU president said his organisation will first set up the academies in Harare, Bulawayo and Mutare before spreading to other parts of the country.
He revealed that Losson Mutongwiza has been assigned to spearhead the developmental sides.
“The Zimbabwe Academy structures are now operational which will serve as an incubator for talent.
What we noted is that there is a robust rugby at private schools system where most of our players come from. There are some government schools that play rugby and what we want is to tap talent from both the private and public schools.
“We set up the Under-23 Academies so that we harvest and nurture these talented players. We are covered in terms of Under-21 category, but there is a gap between 21 years to Under-23 an age group for players who have left school and struggle to get into first team. Once we bridge the gap, then those talented kids will stand a chance to be selected for Sables,” said Jani.
Mutongwiza said they have finalised the Bulawayo academy base and will soon be heading to Harare.
“The guys, basically the cream of clubs who are Under-23s will be drafted into the academies. As it is, they have been training in Bulawayo where the set up has been finalised and the next stop is Harare.
“What will happen is that we will have regular training programmes, then organise games for them locally or even tour neighbouring countries. We also don’t mind sending players to clubs in South Africa where they can develop,” said Mutongwiza.
Meanwhile, the first Under-23 Academy match which was scheduled for tomorrow against Naka Bulls of South Africa has been postponed to February next year. — @ZililoR
Online Reporter