The Sunday News
Mehluli Sibanda, Senior Sports Reporter
IN a bid to regularise appointments as well as fill vacant positions, Zimbabwe Rugby Union (ZRU) have advertised three positions with the deadline for applications being 10 January.
The posts which have been advertised are that of chief executive officer, director of rugby and national men’s fifteens coach. Blessing Chiutare was appointed as CEO by the Nyararai Sibanda ZRU board which was suspended in August before a vote of no confidence was passed on it in November which paved way for elections at the beginning of December where Aaron Jani was chosen as president. It has turned out that Chiutare was never given a contract despite being hired as far back as May to replace Colleen de Jong.
National Under-18 women’s team coach Nsikelelo Sibanda has been acting director of rugby for over a year since Brighton Chivandire quit the post in September 2017 but the Nyararai Sibanda administration failed to make him substantive.
The Sables coaching post fell vacant in August when ZRU disbanded the Cyprian Mandenge led technical team after a disastrous display by the country’s flagship national rugby team in the Rugby Africa Gold Cup where they just managed to survive relegation and stand a chance of qualifying for the 2019 Rugby World Cup to be staged in Japan.
According to the advertisement circulating on social media, which Jani confirmed to be authentic, the CEO aspiring candidates must have a relevant degree or equivalent as well as previous experience in a similar position.
For director of rugby, those interested in the job ought to have a minimum of a World Rugby level three coaching or match official certificate, outstanding knowledge of the game and previous experience managing rugby programmes.
The would-be Sables head coach must possess a minimum of a World Rugby level two coaching, match official qualification or an equivalent, should have outstanding knowledge of the game and previous experience managing rugby programmes.
Jani said Chiutare and Sibanda were free to apply for the positions advertised if they so wish.
With the ZRU grant from World Rugby having been slashed by almost half, Jani’s leadership is said to be looking at ways to trim the union’s secretariat to a manageable number. It is understood that former Springboks coach Peter de Villiers could be engaged as director of rugby and whose salary is covered by World Rugby then double up as Sables coach.
With the crucial 2018 Gold Cup starting in June, appointing a Sables coach has to be top priority for the ZRU bosses so that whoever is handed the job can start identifying players they want to use in the competition. — @Mdawini
