Manica Post
13 September 2010
By Ngoni Dapira
GREETINGS sports lovers. This week the commentry box will look into the world of Zimbabwean rugby and how the gentlemans game is a possible torch bearer that could hoist the country and place it on the map of sporting ‘power house’ nations like neighbouring South Africa.
Zimbabwe has produced many world-class rugby players over the years, since 1980. Despite limited facilities and coaching, the country has been very competitive regionally and internationally just up to high school and under 20 level.
There is little incentive for most players to play beyond high school level, and consequently the club rugby pool and the national team is very weak. There is little to choose from at national level and this has been the reason for Zimbabwe’s rugby downfall or is it?
As with many other sports, over the years numerous young Zimbabwean rugby talents have defected to play for other nations, mainly South Africa, Australia, Scotland, England and other European countries.
This trend has continued with players being attracted abroad by better playing and coaching facilities, as well as being pushed by the declining economic climate that was in the country, that made it virtually imposssible to earn a living from being a professional sportsperson.
The rugby exodus includes some big names, the likes of Ray Mordt, winger, plays super league rugby in South Africa (S.A), Adrian Garvey, prop/hooker who played for Natal (S.A), Tendai Mtawarira (Beast), prop, plays for the super league club Sharks and Springboks, Brian Mujati, prop for Springboks and super league rugby. There is also Takudzwa Ngwenya, wing, currently plays for the USA and is one of the candidates for the unofficial title of “fastest player in modern rugby”, after outpacing Springboks wing and fastest IRB player, Brian Habana at the 2008 rugby World Cup. Tonderai Chavhanga, another candidate for “fastest player in modern rugby”, has also played for the Springboks, and is currently with the Stormers at Super Rugby level.
Former Springboks player Bobby Skinstad, David Pocock (Australia), Scott Gray and Paul Johnstone (Scotland), Andy Marinos (Wales) and Edmoore Takaendesa (Germany), are just but the few known names of the Zimbabwean rugby exodus tale.
Most of these players left the country just after high school or during high school, However, many others unknown, are playing at top levels in New Zealand, South Africa, Wales, England, Scotland, Ireland and across Europe.
To add salt on to the injury this year nine Sables (15’s national team) players are playing their club rugby in Cape Town. These young players have been making headlines in the local top flight league and now they are in S.A, where if given the chance they will play for Springboks just like the rest. Gerald Sibanda, Tangai Nemadire, Cleopas Makotose, Denford Mutamangira turn out for SK Walmers Rugby Club, a side playing in the Western Province Super A League. Utility player Gardner Nechironga, flyhalf Bernard Mukondiwa, prop Alfred Sairai and lock Fortune Chipendo are at Primrose Rugby Club in the Western Province Super B League, while loose forward Norman Mukondiwa is at False Bay Rugby Club that is in the Western Province Super A League.
This year the Sables played in the Africa Cup in which Zimbabwe hosted the Pool C matches.
They trounced their regional rivals Namibia, who have been getting the better of them over the years, as well as, Madagascar and Botswana.
The Cheetahs (7’s national team) on the other hand won the Castle sevens tournament in Zambia held from 28 to 29 August. It marks their fourth Cup final win in the past five years participating at the tournament.
So the question now lies on whether it is a mere accentuation that there is rugby talent worth noting in Zimbabwe that can actually put Zimbabwe amongst the top international rugby teams or it is a wild goose chase that will never materialize.
At the annual Cottco rugby festival that has been running for eleven years now, a lot of talent is scouted and most of it in private schools eventually goes to Rugby academies or Colleges abroad.
If all that talent could be tapped with a 10-year plan the outcome would be lead to a formidable national rugby side.
The Minister of Education, Sport, Arts and Culture David Coltart, speaking as the guest of honour at the Under 20’s farewell dinner to the IRB Junior World Cup held last month said he would love to see Zimbabwe rugby rise to be one of the best nations in the world just like what South Africa accomplished.
“Sport has always been the fun side of my job as the minister and I would love to see Zimbabwe rugby rise to be one of the best nations in the world.”Sport has always been the fun side of my job as the minister and I would love to see Zimbabwe rugby rise to be one of the best nations in the world. “But if we understand that we have to be patient and build Zimbabwe sport together to rise to the levels like when we beat the All Blacks in 1949, we will see ourselves playing at the highest levels like that of the Super 14 someday,” said Coltart.