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Deputy Minister Tabitha Kanengoni-Malinga

Sports Reporter
THE Zimbabwe Rugby Union is gearing up to host to this year’s edition of the Confederation of African Rugby (CAR) Men’s Sevens tournament at the end of the year.Twelve countries – Kenya, Uganda, Tunisia, Nigeria, Madagascar, Namibia, Botswana, Senegal, Zambia, Ivory Coast, South Africa and the hosts Zimbabwe will compete at the continental competition to be staged from November 29 to 30.

Godfrey Koti, ZRU spokesperson, said CAR’s decision to award Zimbabwe the rights to play host to the continental Sevens showpiece was a vote of confidence in the country’s rugby development and administration.

“As ZRU we are happy to be afforded an opportunity to stage such a competition and we are looking forward to playing host to a memorable competition. There has been a lot said about sports tourism and as ZRU we believe that Sevens rugby which is popular worldwide is a perfect tool that we can show that Zimbabwe is a destination of choice. Since it will be a two-day competition, we have decided that the tournament be held at Harare Sports Club,” Koti said.

According to a ZRU statement, CAR’s decision comes at a time when the Ministry of Sport, Arts and Culture joined with the Tourism and Hospitality Ministry as they make strides in marketing the country through sports tourism.

The two ministries have been challenging sports associations to send bids so that they play host to major regional, continental and international tournaments.

Deputy Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture Tabeth Kanengoni-Malinga speaking on the sidelines of the Old Mutual junior development tournament held in Bulawayo last Friday pledged government’s support for the end of year tournament.

“I am delighted to hear the news that we have been awarded the rights to host this tournament. As you are aware, we are trying to get the 2017 Afcon bid for football but this is really an equivalent,” Kanengoni-Malinga said.

“It is now up to the corporate world to assist us in making the CAR Sevens tournament a success because it will reflect to the world that we are a nation that is capable of excelling in the sporting sector both on and off the field.”

The Africa’s rugby governing body made a unanimous decision to award Zimbabwe the right to host the tournament following a visit to the country by CAR’s representative Jean Luc Barthes last month.

Barthes was impressed with the progress that the country had made in its mandate of effectively running the game of rugby.