In fact, he wants to see it compete with soccer as the most popular sport in his hometown, but that does not mean he is under any illusions as to the barriers he will have to surmount in order to fulfill his dream.
“We first have to overcome people’s negative perceptions about the sport because to most of them, rugby is an elite and violent sport. We also need substantial sponsorship,” said Dzama, adding that most young people with an interest in the game did not receive any support , moral or financial, from their parents or guardians.
Currently, the youthful Dzama is head coach at B and P Study Centre, where the game is still relatively new, but his enthusiasm is evident.
“We neither have proper equipment nor game time. Our league is made up of only four teams from four schools and this leaves us with a very short season and deprives the players of enough game time,” added the coach.
Lack of both sponsorship and professional referees was the most hampering progress, but Dzama vowed to fight on. “The only way we can reach out to the community will be through hosting tournaments like the annual Cottco Rugby Festival, usually held at Prince Edward High School, which will help local people know more about rugby.”
Chitungwiza has produced a limited number of rugby players of note, with former national team player, Ray Gurundoro, being one of them.
“I also used to play rugby, although I was not good enough for the national team. I played in the national league with Harare Sports Club before I got injured. I quit because there was no money for me to get the right treatment.”
This year’s Cottco festival had six teams from Chitungwiza. “Those that participated were able to develop their skills because of the exposure they got at the tournament. We also regularly meet as coaches from the area to discuss issues and the means to develop the game and get sponsorship,” he said.
Should sponsorship be secured soon, the future looks bright for the sport in Chitungwiza, but failure could see people start losing interest and move on to other activities. The whole of Chitungwiza has only one rugby field, with the rest using soccer fields.
Lower sixth student, Kudakwashe Mudanda, who is also captain of B and P Study Centre, said his club’s standards compared favourably with the others at the Cottco tournament. “We won one match out of three and our participation here is helping us gain confidence and skills. We wish our parents would play a more active role in supporting us,” said Mudanda, who dreams of playing for the national team one day.
Post published in: Football