“We have included the U16 girls section for the first time to encourage girls,” Sebastian Garikai, the event’s Organising Director, told The Zimbabwean. He said a number of schools from rural areas had also registered to take part.
“We expect at least 150 schools to participate this year and people should expect many surprises from and a shift from what they had been used to for some time. This will also address misconceptions that the sport is selective,” said Garikai. Some matches will be played under flood lights at night in a bid to match the game to international standards.
“We are trying to broaden the base for the national selectors scouting for talent because the time has come for the country to become a powerhouse on the continental game.
We have noticed that there is a lot of talent being left untapped in the country and the idea is to give an opportunity to those schools that have rugby as an extra-curriculum to fully participate so that they can discover and groom young talent,” added Garikai.
The festival is, as has become tradition, expected to draw huge crowds, as it has established itself as a major event in the country. Schools already expected to take part in the showcase include hosts, Prince Edward, will battle it out with Conway, Peter House Boys, Falcon, Churchill Boys, Victoria High, Midlands Christian College, St Georges College and Eaglesvale.
Last year’s edition was graced by visits from South Africa’s Sarel Cilliers High School and St Martins, while the Botswana Under-19s also attended the week long tournament.
Some of the players who have benefited from the event are Tafadzwa Chitokwindo, Claude Bare and Farai Jiji, who have since risen to the national team, following remarkable performances in previous editions of the Cottco tournament.
Post published in: Sport