The Sunday News
Senior Sports Reporter
HARTSFIELD Rugby Ground in Bulawayo will host a two-day schools rugby tournament in honour of the late Vice-President Joshua Mqabuko Nyongolo Nkomo next month. Dubbed the Umdala Wethu Schools Rugby Tournament, the event has been slated for 1 and 2 August with 16 boys’ schools and eight girls’ schools set to compete over the two days.
Renowned local rugby coach George Mukorera, one of those behind the tournament said the proceeds from the gate takings of the event were going to benefit the Matabeleland Rugby Coaches Association, Matabeleland Rugby Football Board as well the Joshua Mqabuko National Foundation.
Mukorera said the aim of the tournament was to promote Nkomo’s legacy through sport, and also to prove that rugby was not an elite but a sport for the masses.
“The Umdala Wethu Schools Rugby Festival is taking place at Hartsfield Rugby Ground on 1 and 2 August. 16 boys’ schools and eight girl’s teams are going to take part. We have invited Kwekwe High School as the only team from outside Bulawayo.
“We are trying to promote the legacy of Joshua Nkomo through sport because that has never been done before. We want to prove that rugby is no longer an elite sport,’’ said Mukorera.
On the first day of the tournament, the schools will march from Nkomo’s statue in the city centre to Hartsfield Rugby Ground.
The second day will see the teams clash in the semi-finals and final before the youngsters are afforded a chance to watch a National Rugby League match pitting city rivals Old Miltonians and Western Panthers.
In terms of prizes, Mukorera said winners in both the boys and girls sections would walk away with a brand new kit while the best players in each section would have their school fees paid for for a full term.
