The Sunday Mail
Sports Reporter
AFTER clinching the Zambia Independence Challenge Cup last weekend, local club FS Raiders now want to stake a claim among continental women’s rugby powerhouses.
FS Raiders co-founder and assistant coach Prosper Mubaiwa announced the club’s ambition after they returned from Lusaka.
“We saw the potential that women have versus the attention given and took it upon ourselves to be that club that propels these young ladies into champions,” said Mubaiwa.
“Going into the tournament (Zambia Independence Challenge Cup), the goal was clear, we all knew we needed to carry our own weight and bring the trophy home.
“And yes, we won the trophy and the goal was reached. However, the success on my part is the entertaining brand of rugby delivered by the girls. It was phenomenal the way they captivated fans and even opponents.
“Our goal is that by 2025 we are the best club in Africa.”
FS Raiders were formed five years ago to bridge the gap between the women’s game and school-girl rugby.
Savious Ngundu, Shelton Chiuswa and Mubaiwa were instrumental in the birth of the club.
“For a long time women’s rugby has been made an after-thought. Before FS Raiders was formed, all the founders were involved in girls’ rugby in schools, so when we eventually came together, we decided to push that niche. Our goal is to develop world-class women that meet and surpass world standards.”
Mubaiwa said although they shared the name Raiders with the famed Dzivarasekwa basketball club, there were not ties between the two.
FS Raiders also pride themselves on becoming the first club to send a women’s side to a rugby tournament beyond the country’s borders.
“FS Raiders . . . made its field debut in 2019 at the ISG tournament and went on to collect its first silverware that same year its Under-19 girls were crowned champions at the Zambezi Sevens in Victoria Falls,” he said.
“We became the first club to send a girls’ team on tour when we participated at the Tuks Sevens in Pretoria, eventually coming out third out of 16 teams.
“We have also played the local Under-20 Paramount Garments League in 2020 before the lockdown. We are yet to taste defeat on local soil.”
They plan to develop and nurture players that can easily compete for the Lady Sables or Lady Cheetahs’ jersey.
