The Sunday News
THE National Rugby League faces a gloomy future after an untimely conclusion which saw the league finish with only nine rounds of matches being played.
Even efforts to salvage some pride by pushing ahead with the playoffs for the top four finishers hit a snag when the matches which had been planned for Harare yesterday were scrapped. The semifinals had already seen 2012 NRL champions Harare Sports Club, on top of the log when the league was brought to its hasty end pullout as they could not raise enough numbers for the playoffs. They had since been replaced by Bulawayo club Western Panthers who were fifth.
NRL chairman Noddy Kanyangarara yesterday expressed his frustration at the way things have turned out. He explained that funds were not an issue as they had raised the money to cater for all the expenses for yesterday’s playoffs.
“Most players had stopped coming for club training so clubs struggled to regroup and also to motivate players to come back for just two games at most. As the league we had our ducks in a row and were ready to host the semis, so it wasn’t for the lack of funds or interest by the teams but players, understandably though,’’ said Kanyangarara.
He believes that after a great final pitting Old Hararians and Old Georgians last year which was won by the former, the NRL would have loved to go a notch higher and with the way things were going before the premature end, it was all pointing to an exciting finish.
Kanyangarara is concerned that the developments this season have painted a bad picture of the NRL which will make it hard for his committee to secure future sponsorship. He is however optimistic about the future with plans already underway for next season.
