ZIMBABWE RUGBY UNION MAPS THE WAY FORWARD ON RESUMPTION OF LOCAL MINI LEAGUES

The Zimbabwe Rugby Union Executive met the Midlands Provincial rugby executive and stakeholders. The Meeting was attended by the ZRU President Aaron Jani, his two Vice Presidents Losson Mtongwiza(N) and Martin Shone (S)

Zimbabwe Rugby Union President Aaron Jani questioned the delay by the Midlands province to kick start the regional league after the association received a nod from the government for sporting activities to resume.
Jani was visiting the province, where he met with the provincial board members, as a part of a national tour to assess the progress by regional leagues to resume competitive games and to map the way forward on the resumption of the sport in the country. The government in March lifted the suspension of sport as part of the relaxation of COVID 19 restrictions that were imposed to minimize the spread of the virus.
As part of the conditions for the resumption of matches, all players and officials should be tested for COVID 19 before every game and spectators would not be allowed at the venues.
The Union president said other provinces in the country were now fully geared to start competitive games within their respective leagues but Midlands had not made any preparations.
“Why haven`t you started playing rugby when you have the players, the teams and the facilities? In other provinces their leagues have already prepared to start.”
The mini league has four teams that include two Midlands State University teams from the Gweru and Zvishavane campuses, Airforce of Zimbabwe and Gweru select, which draws players from communities.
Jani pledged financial support to the Midlands provincial board towards preparations for a mini league to get teams to resume competitive games.
The provincial rugby board had cited that it had no funds to prepare for the games to resume.
The chairperson of the provincial board Zwelonke Mloiswa said they want funding to cover travelling and other expenses for teams and officials.
“The teams are ready to play the games but we have no funds , the idea is to have money to cover for our costs to cover for little things like paying the officials and teams so that they will not cater for themselves, lack of funding will push everyone away and demotivate them”
The resumption of local leagues will boost the selectors pool of players as Country’s mens side (SABLES) is in the fighting be part of the 2023 Rugby World Cup jamboree in France.

Credit: Reason Sekeremo