The Herald
By Paul Manyuki
3 November 2012
THE Sables’ Thursday night training session at Harare Sports Club was cancelled after players demanded to know how much they were to get as allowances for the Namibia rugby invitational tournament next week. The national rugby side is expected to leave the country for Windhoek on Wednesday, but they failed to train demanding to be addressed by Sables committee chairman Bongai Zamchiya regarding their allowances.
Zamchiya had to be called in and addressed the players assuring them they will get at least US$400 each with US$150 per game while US$10 comes in as player allowance per day during the Namibia tour.
Sables’ captain Costa Dinha chose to be diplomatic about the issue saying: “Players wanted more money for the tour, there were a lot of questions asked yesterday (Thursday), we spoke to the management and they told us that if they are able to get more then they will top up.
“Personally, I acknowledge that the Union does not have money, but it would be good for the players as well if the committee manages to get more money,†said the Old Hararians lock.
However, Zamchiya acknowledged that the Zimbabwe Rugby Union have fallen on hard times and they still need US$25 000 for the tour to be successful.
“We have a more than US$20 000 shortfall for our needs for the Namibia tournament and we still need money to put the players in camp, players need accommodation and allowances are crucial.
“We had a team meeting with the players and we told them our position regarding the finances of the Union and the trip but the players were not content with what we offered them.
“They obviously wanted more and surely we would have wanted to give them more but the state of our accounts does not allow that at the moment and we are literary going around begging for the funds to balance things.
“This is only for the Namibia trip and we are also expected to travel to Dubai in December for another tournament so this definitely means that we need more money as well.
“We have sent as many requests as we can to as many companies and individuals we feel can help but right now we don’t have an idea as to who will give us what,†said Zamchiya.
Last year the Sables beat both Kenya and Uganda in both home and away matches to lift the Tri-Nations Victoria Cup for the first time before winning the Africa Cup their year in Tunisia.
“This is the reason why we do not have any foreign-based players in the side because we could not manage to bring them in, I wish we were blessed enough to raise more than enough money for one game.
“But we are struggling and this goes on to show that our corporates are not supporting us enough and sport in general because we are failing to raise US$20 000 for just one trip.
“The Minister of Sport, David Coltart has tried to mobilise support for us but nothing has come up. And it seems that those who are outside Zimbabwe actually are offering more support to us than our on locals, we just received Brian Mujati’s jersey for auction and some Springboks have sent us videos showing support for Zimbabwe,†said Zamchiya
Team manager Losson Mtongwiza yesterday named a 34-man team that is expected to get into camp today, starting with a 2,5kilometre run at the National Sports Stadium.
Of the 34-players called into camp, there are two foreign-based players in the form of Biselele Tshamala and Royal Mwale, both from South Africa, who were called into camp as they were already in the country.
“We will be based at Old Hararians until we leave for Namibia and we are going to play two Tests against Spain and Namibia and the third game has been cancelled because the South African side will no longer be taking part.
“The final squad will be named on Monday when we cut it down to the final travelling 24 players,†said the former ZRU vice-president.
Sables squad:
Jonathan Goosen, Pieter Joubert, Vakai Hove, Norman Mukondiwa, Royal Mwale, Raymond Dzvairo, Costa Dinha, Jan Ferreira, Tollerance Zishe, Soup Chikobvu,Fourtune Chipendo, Biselele Tshamala, Fidel Nyabusha, Zvikomborero Murangari, Jacques Leitao, Lucky Sithole, Takunda Chifokoyo, Scotty Jones, Philmon Machisa, Rayn Sparky, Linience Tambwera, Tichafa Makwanya, Wensley Mbanje, Japhet Ndebele, Daniel Hondo, Danny Roberts, Shaen Makombe, Gavin Nyawata, Tangai Nemandire, Gardner Nechironga, Steven Hunduza, Simbarashe Chirimuuta.