Zimbabwe rugby’s bright future fading

BY GRACE CHIRUMANZU
Rugby has been one of the major sports in Zimbabwe, in recent years, but its future teeters on the verge of demise.
The country has proved a force to reckon with in the continent, with the national rugby sevens team emerging the only African side to win a silverware, at this year’s edition of the International Rugby Board World Cup.
It is currently ranked 54 in the world and 10 in Africa. But just as tennis fell apart and cricket was crippled by the departure of experienced players, it is feared rugby may soon disappear into oblivion, due to lack of funding.
Zimbabwe Rugby Union president, Themba Sibanda, admitted to The Zimbabwean on Sunday that “the Union cannot do anything” to save the sport from falling apart “without the help of the corporate world.”
“In the whole world every sport is heavily funded by the corporate world,” he said.
“The current economic situation has heavily affected us; companies are not interested in taking part in such activities. As ZRU we are faced with a difficult situation where we are not sure whether to fund one team and forget about the rest or should we continue with the development.”
The Cheetahs failed to travel to Morocco, for the Tangiers Sevens Tournament, held this month after the Union fell short of funds for the trip.
Ironically, the sevens side were out to seek IRB recognition to regularly play as one of the core nations, which takes part in the competitive sevens circuit –a series of tournaments played all year round by the ten best performing sides of the world- by impressing in the Hong Kong Sevens.
According to Sibanda, ZRU is not financially equipped to fund the national teams to participate in such high profile tournaments.
It has been due to this lack of sponsorship that has seen the influx of talented Zimbabwean rugby players into neighboring South Africa and other foreign lands.
The loss of talented and experienced players has also been triggered by a local league devoid of competition and professionalism and the national players’ limited exposure to international matches.
The South African rugby leagues have since benefited from the country’s problems at the expense of local competitions.
Zimbabwe lost talented players such as Tonderai Chavhanga, speedy winger, Wes Mbanje, fullback Cleopas Makotose, Tendai "Beast" Mtawarira, wingers Tangai Nemadire and Gerry Sibanda.
A raging debate is often discussed within the rugby fraternity whether Zimbabwe will be able to retain its players for national duty and back into local leagues.
But just as it is an insurmountable task for ZRU to retain them, Sibanda reveals that it is inevitable to stop those moving as the country’s rugby governing board has nothing better to offer.
“We lose players to foreign clubs on a weekly basis and there is nothing much we can do to stop that at the moment,” he said.
“The players will continue moving as they seek to play the sport professionally. The league here is played more like a hobby; they are not paid for it. Until we can be able to offer players at least $US500 per month then we can start thinking of retaining them.”
Sibanda told The Zimbabwean on Sunday it is not up to them to tell when the future of rugby in Zimbabwe will shine bright as it is all dependent “on the economy and the participation of the corporate world.”


http://www.thezimbabwean.co.uk/

Bantu Rovers aim to make amends

BY GRACE CHIRUMANZU
Bulawayo-based side, Bantu Rovers, who have been competing with bottom placed Underhill, for the tail of the pack, will be looking at using their win against Eagles, last week as a pace-setter, in the premier soccer league match against Shooting Stars, at Gwanzura, today.
Head coach, Gift Lunga, hopes that “lady luck” will smile on them today and in the matches to come, as he admitted to The Zimbabwean that “we have put ourselves under pressure.”
“It was not a matter of not performing, I believe we have just been unlucky,” said Lunga.
Bantu Rovers, a side formed out of Mutare’s Eastern Lions franchise, this year, has managed to collect seven points off nine matches. The Bulawayo side together with Underhill has suffered six defeats to be the teams with most defeats in the 16-team competition.
Though Underhill is yet to win a match, Bantu Rovers have tasted victory twice and drew once.
The team generated a lot of expectations from the local football fanatics. Some anticipated a stubborn rival of Highlanders in the Methembe Ndlovu owned club, as others appeared to have found a new team to support after a disappointing season by the Bulawayo giants, last year.
But Bantu Rovers have since failed to live up to the expectation. The club needs to pick some points in the following matches to reduce the pressure of fighting against relegation towards the end of the season.
Lunga who is well aware of the difficult situation his charges are hopes his troops snatch some points away from home against a side he respects.
“I admit it is a good side (Shooting Stars) and we are going to put our effort as we have been doing. The better team of the day will win,” he declared.
Shooting Stars picked a point in their last away match; they drew 1-1 against Njube Sundowns at Pelandaba Stadium, last weekend.
They have so far amassed 13 points from their nine matches.

www.thezimbabwean.co.uk

SA karate camp hosts Zim athletes

BY GRACE CHIRUMANZU

A total of 165 fighters convened for an annual international kyokushin karate camp, in Stellenbosch, South Africa, last weekend. Three Zimbabwean karatekas took part in the training camp, which also hosted athletes from Zambia and other South African Provinces, which include KwaZulu-Natal, Gauteng, Free State, Limpopo, Boland, Eastern Cape including Transkei and Border The three were Sensei Tendayi Marange, Tawanda Mufundisi and Sydney Veremu who according to reports in South Africa, performed “exceptionally well.”
According to one of the African karate masters, Shihan Hennie Bosman,karatekas had an opportunity to use such a competitive event to prepare for the World Karate Champs to take place in Hungary, later this year.
“Yes, the world championship is obviously the highlight of each year and we are giving everything in our preparation. Our top fighters such as Siyabonga Tyandela, Barry Gelderblom and Roger Williams have participated previously at the championships.
“They have gained tremendous experience and know what to expect, and they will be up to the task come October,” said Bosman.
Zimbabwean fighters have proved a force to reckon with regionally, in recent years. But lack of sponsorship to global events, which will boost their experience has been their barrier to their success.
Mufundisi and Veremu are full-time instructors at Shihan Hennie Bosman’s Dojo, in South Africa’s port city of Cape Town.