Story by Raynald Ngwarati
THE history books were re-written this Saturday as Chitungwiza hosted its first rugby match after a partnership between the Zimbabwe Rugby Union and its affiliate in the city.
Dubbed the Southern City Invitational Tournament, the event saw a total of eight clubs from around the country taking part in the historic tourney, as rugby aims to spread its roots beyond just Harare.
Though there is still a lot of work to be carried out at the facility, the Zimbabwe Rugby Union (ZRU) was impressed by the landmark development as it eyes to do even more towards the promotion of the sport around the country.
“We are very excited as the Zimbabwe Rugby Union and we are hoping that this will really be just a game changer and take us to the next level in as much as development is concerned, we want as many players to come out of here and we know that if the game goes to the masses it’ll be a massive game changer,” said Zimbabwe Rugby Union vice president north, Losson Mtongwiza.
For the organisers the record-breaking feat is just one step into a journey of a thousand miles.
“Our aim is not to just play our home matches here, but to have the national teams coming to play here,” the tournament director, Tangisai Chidhakwa.
“It is a new home, a new avenue for the sport in the country, we are trying to bring rugby to the people, a population of almost a million plus people, so rugby must come back to the people,” said Southern City chairman, Carlton Majuru.
The Southern City Invitational Tournament is part of consolidated efforts by the ZRU to harness and develop untapped talents to be included in the third biggest sport in the country.
