The Sunday News
A local sports management firm Kyros Sports is behind the highly profile friendly between two South African Super Rugby franchises Northern Bulls and Free State Cheetahs scheduled for Zimbabwe in February next year.
Kisset Chirengende, the founder and director of Kyros Sports said the match which has been dubbed the Lafarge Zimbabwe Champions Cup is scheduled for a yet to named venue in Harare on 6 February. Experienced South African international referee Jaco Peyper will handle the match. On how they got to organise the fixture, Chirengende explained that the project was mooted in June this year, with phone calls and visits to South Africa sealing the deal.
“This has been a project that has been in the works since June where we flew or made contact via phone to South Africa several times with the relevant parties and we are grateful to those two franchises for agreeing to come and play in our country and add to the already rich rugby tradition locally,’’ said Chirengende.
On the objective of the tour and how it will contribute to the growth of rugby in Zimbabwe, Chirengende said the visit by the two South African teams is meant to stimulate growth of the local game at grassroots level as well as all other level. Both teams are expected to carry out a number of coaching clinics, fan signing activities and there will also be a match activation dinner on Friday 5 February.
The Bulls, three time Super Rugby Champions will hold their pre-season camp in Victoria Falls from 29 January and then travel to Harare for the clash against Cheetahs.
On which venues they are considering for this high profile friendly clash, Chirengende pointed out that the Harare Sports Club cricket and rugby fields, Police Grounds as well as the National Sports Stadium were being looked at as possible scenes for what promises to be an epic battle between the two South African teams ahead of the start of the 2016 Super Rugby season at the end of February.
Zimbabwe Rugby Union though not directly involved have already given their blessings for the match which they believe will play a huge part in promoting interest in the game.
