Sisa Sihwa, Sports Reporter
INDIVIDUALS who led to the development and viability of rugby in the province will be honoured at the Bulawayo Metropolitan Rugby Football Board annual awards to be held at Hartsfield Ground this week.
The award ceremony that will be hosted on Friday evening will be recognising people whose contribution has positively impacted the game of rugby and carried it forward.
Former Sables coach Brendan Dawson, who is assisting at Falcon College will be the guest of honour at the glamorous event.
BMRFB spokesman Simbarashe Dangah said the aim of the event is to appreciate and recognise people who made rugby tick in the province.
“The idea is to acknowledge their efforts they have made towards developing the sport, so that they motivate, encourage and entice others as well to do the same for Bulawayo rugby and Zimbabwe Rugby Union brand,’’ said Dangah.
He said the event will also be honouring past heroes in the sport together with current crop.
“We will also be acknowledging our past heroes who have brought us thus far in the game which includes players, coaches, officials, referees and general administrators who have helped put Bulawayo as a province on the map,” Dangah said.
The awards ceremony will be done in a systematic manner that will promote the growth of the discipline in the same standard from Bulawayo to other provinces.
“We will also show credit to the people involved in junior development level up to the international level because we want to do it in concentric way so that it cascades from provincial to national stage,” he said.
In the fifteens category for men, nominees will be up for the best forward, best backline, the most improved player, the most disciplined, the most dedicated players, the rookie of the year and team manager of the year.
Other categories that will be up for grabs are the referees, the national colours awards and the long service award.
In the sevens rugby awards, nominees will battle it out for player of the year, most improved player, coach of the year and other categories.
The women will also battle it out in nominees for the best forward, best backline, the most improved in the sevens awards category. Another category up for grabs is the fifteens awards for the best forward, best backline, the most improved and most dedicated players among other categories. J_sihwa