The Sunday Mail
Tinashe Kusema —
THE Zimbabwe Rugby Union will today host a special no holds barred meeting with all its stakeholders as the association looks to curb the sports’ waning fortunes.
This is turning out to be one of the worst calendar years in the union’s history, with the biggest story being the country’s disastrous Africa Cup campaign.
Clashes between players and administration over allowances, the continued declined of the sevens game and a couple of international tournaments that hit the association’s financials hard were some of the other top stories this year. These and many others are some of the issues that have been tabled for the discussion today.
A brainchild of ZRU vice-president Noddy Kanyangarara and Kyros Sports director and founder Kisset Chirengende, the meeting will be open to all rugby stakeholders and will be held at the association’s head offices.
“We are trying to find ways of involving everyone in the running of the game,” said Kanyangarara.
“A number of stakeholders have strengths in different aspects of the game – whether it be administration, technical, finance, public relations or advertising – and we want everybody to come together and try identify where they can fit in.
“It will be a no holds barred meeting, where everybody has a say and will be free to air their views.
“Hopefully, it is from this platform that we will get people’s ideas and then engage them on their different talents.
“At the end of it all we are hoping to have a shared vision by all stakeholders to take our rugby forward,” he said. Speaking on the preparations, Kanyangara said, “The relevant authority has been sought out and we managed to get the buy in from the executive.
“We asked the general public how best to do it and we did get some responses. “It is open to all board members, players and the general public,” he said.Among those expected to speak during the formal potion of the meeting are representatives from the union, junior rugby sponsors Old Mutual, players and club rugby.
The meeting is expected to start at 11am.
