The Sunday News
OLD Mutual Zimbabwe group chief executive officer Jonas Mushosho has reaffirmed his company’s commitment to the spread of rugby to previously disadvantaged communities in the country.
In an interview at the end of the Old Mutual Inter-Community Cup at Hartsfield Rugby Ground in Bulawayo on Friday, Mushosho said they (Old Mutual) were looking to the future in terms of the tournament.
The schools rugby development initiative was born out of an agreement between the international financial services company and the Zimbabwe Rugby Union.
Old Mutual and ZRU got into an annually renewable agreement in April this year which has benefited thousands of up and coming talent in the high density suburbs of Bulawayo, Chitungwiza and Harare. With Old Mutual seemingly impressed with investment that has not gone to waste, the agreement might be renewed.
“We pride ourselves in our philosophy that is to help people achieve great things by investing in their development. We believe that when they start succeeding we can share in their success. We have been extremely surprised, impressed and amazed by the level of enthusiasm shown by the players and the coaches, the skills level has been incredible,’’ said Mushosho.
The Old Mutual boss who was flanked at the event by the group’s marketing executive, Lilian Mbayiwa and Tendai Mutseyekwa, the group senior communications consultant said they were now looking at extending their partnership with ZRU to next year and many more years to come.
“The agreement was for a year, we are confident we will carry it to next year and beyond. This year we focused on Harare, Bulawayo and Chitungwiza but next year we want to take it to Mashonaland West, give ourselves three to five years to cover the whole of Zimbabwe. We want this relationship with the Zimbabwe Rugby Union to be long, fruitful and mutually beneficial to both parties,’’ said Mushosho.
Old Mutual and ZRU entered into an annually renewable partnership which was worth $90 000 this year. The sponsorship also covered air fares and kit for the three Zimbabwe national junior teams which represented the country in the annual Coca-Cola Craven Weeks in neighbouring South Africa.
Meanwhile, Sobukhazi High School from Bulawayo’s Reigate district, coached by Killian Hadebe took the honours in the Under-18 category in the Old Mutual Inter-Community Cup with a 20-0 triumph over Msiteli High School in the final. Sobukhazi scored three tries, the scorers being Elson Manyange, skipper Handson Hlongwane and Talent Dube while Oswell Msimanga chipped in with one penalty goal and one conversion kick.
Entumbane High School were champions in the Under-16 and Under-14 categories. Schools from Reigate, Imbizo and Mzilikazi districts participated in the development initiative.
The final tournament was witnessed by the Deputy Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Tabeth Kanengoni-Malinga, Deputy Minister of Information, Media and Broadcasting Services Supa Mandiwanzira, the ZRU leadership of president John Falkenberg, vice-presidents Colleen De Jong, Nyararai Sibanda, ZRU general manager Sifiso Made, Zimbabwe Sables coach Brendan Dawson and former ZRU director of rugby LiamMiddleton.
