Rugby Union battles to raise funds for CAR Sevens tourney
Sp5

Brighton Chivandire

Senior Sports Reporter
THE Zimbabwe Rugby Union is still to come up with the funds needed to successfully stage the Confederation of African Rugby Africa Cup Sevens rugby tournament pencilled for Prince Edward High School in Harare on Saturday and Sunday. Donald Mangenje, the Zimbabwe Sevens Rugby Committee chairperson, said they were yet to raise sufficient funds for the smooth running of the competition.

A total budget of $100,000 is needed to run the tournament without any glitches.

Out of that amount, $25,000 will be sourced from CAR while the ZRU is expected to chip in with the remaining $75,000. The continental rugby governing body is also taking care of airfares for the visiting teams.

“Preparations are going well and the venue has been confirmed as Prince Edward. We’re still short of the required funding and will have to do much more to raise funds,’’ said Mangenje.

The ZRU has defended its decision to hold such a high profile event at a school as opposed to venues such as Hartsfield Rugby Ground in Bulawayo which were built specifically for rugby. Brighton Chivandire, the ZRU director of rugby said PE has been used for two editions of CAR Under-19 Championships before which have gone without incident and the security measures at the school would ensure the safety of players, officials and spectators.

“We’ve had two CAR Under-19 Championship tournaments at PE in 2011 and 2012 which went without any incident, we’re also planning to have another one in 2015 so we’re satisfied with the level of security at the school,’’ said Chivandire.

Violence broke out at the conclusion of an Africa Cup match between the Zimbabwe Sables and Senegal in June 2005 with the spectators involved in a brawl with the Senegalese players. It led to World Rugby (formerly the International Rugby Board) to order ZRU to hold international matches at facilities that were specifically built for rugby with adequate security for everyone involved.

A fence to separate players and the spectators was erected at PE which now makes the venue meet World Rugby guidelines.

Countries expected to descend on Zimbabwe for the 12-team contest are Kenya, Cote d’Ivoire, Nigeria, Namibia, Uganda, South Africa, Tunisia, Botswana, Zambia, Senegal and Madagascar.

The tournament is going to be used as a qualifier for the Hong Kong Sevens World Sevens Series qualifier in March next year which itself serves as a qualifying event for the World Rugby World Sevens Series core membership status. With South Africa and Kenya already full members of the World Rugby sevens circuit, all Zimbabwe have to do is make it to the semifinals of the Africa Cup to secure a place in Hong Kong.

Meanwhile, the Gilbert Nyamutsamba coached Zimbabwe Cheetahs went into camp yesterday at Innovate High Performance Centre in Harare. A squad of 18 players was named at the conclusion of the Summer Series at Old Georgians Sports Club in the capital city two weeks ago. Changes have however since been made as some of the players called up are not available. Sevens rugby stalwart Wesley Mbanje and Gweru Sports Club scrumhalf Kilvan Magunje have since been drafted into the training squad. The final squad of 12 players to participate in the tournament is going to be disclosed on Thursday.

South Africa based forward Biselele Tshamala has been ruled out with a hamstring injury sustained while turning out for the Sharks Sevens in Cape Town three weeks ago. It is understood that Tshamala had played all season with the problem but it escalated in Cape Town, forcing him to stay away from rugby until the end of the year while he recuperates.

Other South Africa based players to pull out are Lenience Tambwera and Lambert Groenewald.

Zimbabwe Cheetahs provisional squad

Jacques Leitao(captain), Fortune Chipendu, Gardner Nechironga, Stephan Hunduza, Hilton Mudariki, Takudzwa Kamudire, Teddy Hwata, Njabulo Ndlovu, Boyd Rouse, Mkhululi Ndlela, Tafadzwa Chitokwindo, Morgan Vangue, Graham Kaulback, Kudakwashe Chiwanza, Riaan O’Neil, Shayne Makombe, Wesley Mbanje, Kilvan Magunje.
Head Coach: Gilbert Nyamutsamba
Assistant Coach: Daniel Hondo
Team Manager: Steve McDonald.

You Might Also Like

Comments