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Ricky Zililo Senior Sports Reporter
THE Botswana Under-13 national rugby team will compete in the annual Lou Corbi Rugby Festival set for today at Bulawayo’s ceremonial home of rugby, Hartsfield Stadium.

This will be the second time for the festival to have an out of Zimbabwe team, with Botswana having sent an Under-12 team in 2011.

Harare’s Mbare Academy, who have become one of the powerhouses at rugby grassroots competitions, have withdrawn from this year’s 24th edition of the festival due to financial constraints.

Matabeleland Rugby Football Board (MRFB) development officer George “Coach Rollo” Mukorera said they had received at least 20 entries for the competition.

“Everything is set for the Lou Corbi Festival which happens to be one of the biggest events in our rugby calendar. This competition affords youngsters an opportunity to come and compete at a tender age and thereby perfecting their skills. Whenever we talk about development of rugby, it will be incomplete without the mention of Lou Corbi. This festival is more like a first step for future rugby stars from the western areas,” said Mukorera.

“In the spirit of development, we have invited teams from outside the country, that is Botswana Under-13s. Unfortunately Mbare Academy will not be coming as they have indicated to us that they have limited coffers that can’t sustain their visit to Bulawayo.”

The competition is in honour of Corbi, a former Old Miltonians and Sables flanker.

Corbi coached Zimbabwe’s senior national team in 1982 and upon his retirement in 1990, he dedicated most of his time to grassroots development.

Some of the participating teams from Bulawayo Primary Schools include Ntabeni, Mbizo, Masuku, Ingwegwe, Imbizo, Josiah Chinamano, Zulukandaba and Cowdray Park’s Senzangakhona.

Mukorera said they have sourced prizes for the Most Outstanding team which will get a trophy and balls, the Most Improved team (shield and balls) as well as individual accolades.

Some of the players who went on to be household names in local rugby include Sables and Cheetahs’ speed merchant Gardner Nechironga, Mukorera who has a passion for developing talent, ex-national team player Arthur Mathe, the younger generation which has Irvine “Bhuda” Nduwa, fringe Goshawks player Busani Ncube and Bradley Takawira.