The Sunday Mail
Don Makanyanga
THE recently appointed Zimbabwe Rugby Union (ZRU) organising committee chairman has named a seven-member team that is set to lead Sables preparations for this year’s World Cup qualification process. In an exclusive interview with The Sunday Mail, Mlotshwa said he had assembled a team which will spearhead Zimbabwe rugby flagship side preparations ahead of the Japan 2019 World Cup.
“I was appointed the chairman of the committee by the union, and given a reasonable discretion to assemble a team and this has been achieved,” he said. The seven-member committee is made up of current ZRU vice president Losson Mtongwiza, Thembe Khumalo (brand builder), Neil Nesbitt (former rugby player and Bulawayo-based businessman), Edwin Gumbo (chartered accountant), Sam Samu (former Sables manager), Kennedy Tsimba (coach and rugby administrator) and Pascal Musavaya (former Sables player).
He added that the members of the committee had offered their services on a voluntary basis and will remain accountable to the union.
“These persons have volunteered their services in the national cause with no expectation of remuneration, hence we will work as a team and remain accountable, ultimately to the Zimbabwe Rugby Union.
“Each member has their particular strengths and capabilities, and it may well be that some of them will lead the process in that particular respect,” he said.
With the dire state of Zimbabwe Rugby, Mlotshwa, who has been an all-weather friend for Zimbabwe Rugby, said his acceptance to lead the organising committee was precipitated the desire to see Zimbabwe return to its former days.
“The moment one involves themselves in a cause for the sake of their image, it is the moment they lose the plot.
“It is the image and state of the game that must matter, and not the personalities involved in its administration.
“The only people that should shine in rugby are the players themselves, as a team. Sport should never be overshadowed by glory-seeking personalities prancing up and down sidelines or in boardrooms. The game belongs to the players and the fans. It’s that simple,” he said.
“Sport in this country must get back to those days and levels where we could cheer our national rugby side to thumping victories over teams like the All Blacks, or our national cricket side whitewashing England in an ODI series.”
Mlotshwa believes the ushering in of a new dispensation at ZRU, led Aaron Jani, will mend the tattered image of Zimbabwe Rugby. “Rugby in this county is on the mend. I believe that the Aaron Jani-led administration is the right one at the right time for the game.
“There is a lot of goodwill out there, and in the coming months, I think Zimbabweans will have a national rugby side that they can be proud of,” said Mlotshwa.
