The ManicaPost
Ray Bande
Senior Reporter
LADIES rugby in Mutare will be in for a major boost when the city’s flagship outfit, Mutare Sports Club take their training sessions to the oldest suburb of Sakubva, in a deliberate ploy to lure talented players who might have felt sidelined from the sport.
Rugby has long been perceived as a sport for the elite, with schools in high-density suburbs hardly partaking in rugby competitions, while clubs are non-existent.
However, Mutare Sports Club are chatting a new path by taking the game to the marginalised communities, in a move expected to unearth gems hidden there.
Just like the Sahumani rugby project in Honde Valley, where rural girls surprised everyone including themselves when they managed to assemble a team that competed toe-to-toe with traditional giants in the game, the expedition in high-density suburbs is expected to yield positive results.
Mutare Sports Club rugby team’ manager, Casper “Belt” Bandi told Post Sports that they were starting their sojourn in high-density suburbs with the females’ team.
“We have made a deliberate move to lure rugby talent in high-density suburbs of Mutare. We have talented players in those communities who might not have had the chance to try their luck in the game because of the old perception that the game is only for those coming from low-density suburbs.
“We are starting with the girls rugby team which will have its first training session at Chinyausunzi Grounds. We are inviting all female players who think they can play the game of rugby to come and be part of this training session.
“We are confident that we will have talented players emerging from the ghetto,” said Bandi.
Meanwhile, Mutare Sports Club rugby men’s outfit will get a feel of international club rugby competitions after they were invited to partake in the Blessed Joseph Gerard Tournament in Lesotho as well as the Lois Trichardt Annual Rugby Day in South Africa.
The Blessed Joseph Gerard Tournament at Roma in the Lesotho capital of Maseru is set for the first week of April, while the Lois Trichardt Annual Rugby Day in South Africa is scheduled for March 5.
Bandi said: “It is good for our club to get this kind of regional attention and competition. It will obviously come in handy in our efforts to take the game of rugby to a higher level here in Mutare.
“We will be preparing for these tournaments, and we hope we will get more corporate partners for us to be able, not only to fulfil the fixtures, but do so in style.”
