The Sunday News
RECENTLY appointed Zimbabwe Rugby Union director of rugby Brighton Chivandire has revealed that the belief that he could do the job is what motivated him to take up the new challenge.
Last Monday Chivandire was unveiled as the new man to oversee the technical side of things at ZRU, a post left vacant after the untimely departure of Liam Middleton who has taken up a job as Canada national Sevens rugby team coach.
A former Sables as well as Young Sables head coach whose last high level post in rugby was Zimbabwe Sables team manager, the 45-year-old Chivandire disclosed that he applied for the ZRU director of rugby position as soon as it was advertised because he believed he had what it took to thrive in that job.
“I applied for the post soon as it was advertised, my motivation was the belief I could do it,’’ said Chivandire.
With Zimbabwe due to host the Confederation of African Rugby Africa Cup Sevens, Chivandire, who only assumes his new post at the beginning of November, said he also has a part to play in the preparations for the two-day event.
Chivandire is also focusing on the Old Mutual bankrolled development programmes with a view to having them being beneficial to the ZRU and the sponsors.
ZRU and Old Mutual entered into an annually renewable development initiative which gave birth to the Old Mutual Inter-Community Cup which was competed for by schools in the high-density areas of Bulawayo, Chitungwiza and Harare. The sponsorship worth $90 000 this year also covered airfares and playing kit for the three Zimbabwe junior teams, which travelled to South Africa for the annual Coca-Cola Craven Weeks.
The biggest challenge for Chivandire are the elite national teams, the Zimbabwe Sables, Zimbabwe Cheetahs and the women’s national team. As director of rugby, he has to plan for all the teams and would be attached to the national teams whenever they are preparing for a big tournament.
Middleton’s tenure was riddled with allegations of interfering with the duties of the Sables and Cheetahs coaches. Instead of supervising the coaches as their boss, Middleton was accused of taking over the coaching duties at the representative sides.
His alleged meddling even saw him sideline Cheetahs coach Gilbert Nyamutsamba virtually usurping his duties for international tournaments at the end of last year and beginning of this year. His interference resulted in the failure by the Cheetahs to attain International Rugby Board World Sevens Series core membership status.
With Middleton part of the technical team, the Brendan Dawson-coached Sables fell short in their quest to book their place at the 2015 IRB Rugby World in England. Middleton was accused of being the one who gave the instruction to Zimbabwe flyhalf Guy Cronje to kick for posts a penalty against Kenya instead of kicking for touch which would have allowed the Sables to push for a fourth try which was going to see Zimbabwe automatically qualify for England as Africa Cup winners. Instead Namibia went on to hammer Madagascar to seal the automatic spot which saw Zimbabwe being relegated to play Russia in an inter-confederation play off where the Sables lost.
Chivandire is fully aware of the controversy which surrounded his predecessor. He has declared that he was not going to interfere with the duties of the coaches.
“The structure is straightforward, the director of rugby is responsible for high performance. The national team coaches have deliverables and I have to make sure that they are delivered. There is no need for interference. I have to focus on player development to make sure that there is an exit plan for these players who come through the development programmes, we want to see them play for the Cheetahs and Sables,’’ Chivandire said.
A holder of an IRB level three coaching qualification which is the highest certificate a coach can obtain which took him 12 months to secure, Chivandire said he is also going to ensure the local rugby coaches are empowered while cognisant that getting the coaches qualified was not an overnight process.
A former Sables coach who was in charge of the national team in 2004, Chivandire was also Under-19 and Under-20 coach from 2006 up to 2012. He guided the national Under-20 team to the IRB Junior World Trophy in 2007, 2010, 2011 and 2012.
In 2012, the former Matabeleland Busters, Old Hararians and Zimbabwe Sables second rower assumed the role of Under-20 head of technical.
In 2009, Chivandire took the Coach of the Year award at the Annual Sports Awards where he was runner-up the following year and second runner-up in 2011.
