FORCING AND FIGHTING . . . Liam Middleton’s move to coach the Cheetahs again has torched a storm in the ZRU corridors
Paul Munyuki Sports Reporter
THE Cheetahs coaching job reached new crisis levels yesterday following revelations that the Zimbabwe Rugby Union are now divided on who to choose between incumbent Gilbert Nyamutsamba and Liam Middleton. It emerged yesterday that there was no immediate solution reached after a marathon meeting of the ZRU leadership and the two warring coaches.
The meeting was attended by Union president John Falkenberg, his two deputies Nyararai Sibanda and Colleen de Jong, general manager Sifiso Made, marketing and media consultant David Crouch, Cheetahs chairman Donald Mangenje and the two coaches.
Sources close to the indaba said last night that after lengthy deliberations, debate on who should be the Cheetahs coach was deferred to an as yet-to-be announced date.
The sources, however, said the matter left the ZRU divided into two factions with vice-president de Jong reportedly backing Middleton to double up as director of rugby and Cheetahs coach while Union president Falkenberg has thrown his weight behind Nyamutsamba.
What’s more worrying is that the ZRU could not resolve the coaching dispute with less than two weeks before the Cheetahs take part at the demanding Hong Kong Sevens tournament where they aim to become a core member.
Middleton forced his way to take charge of the Cheetahs during the Zimbabwe Invitational at Harare Sports Cub last weekend.
Meanwhile, the Zimbabwe schools rugby brand got a major boost ahead of their season after they signed a sponsorship deal with Old Mutual that will see financial services giant cover the junior teams travel expenses for the Craven Week teams.
This is a first for the schools rugby brand as players previously had to pay for their own flights to South Africa for the Youth Week that include the Under-18 Craven Week, Under-16 Grant Khomo and Under-13 Craven Week festivals.
The fact that players had to pay for their own air-fares would have deprived under-privileged but talented players a chance to represent their country on foreign soil.
Zimbabwe Under-18 side were the toast of the Zimbabwe sides after they finished in the top five of last year’s festival in Polokwane, that was won by Western Province, who emerged unbeaten in the week-long event.
Having finished in the top five following two wins and a defeat to Namibia on the final day, Zimbabwe have been promoted and drawn against the tougher sides for this year’s festival where they are set to take on Eastern Province Country Districts who finished third last year.
The Under-18 festival is this year, expected to take place at the Middelburg High School in Mpumalanga Province from July 13-19, while the Grant Khomo Week has been set for Pretoria, running from July 6-10.
But much of the interest will be on Godwin “Jaws” Murambiwa’s Under-18 side as they are under pressure to match last year’s standards.
“Eastern Province Country Districts have been a good side of late and they have been very consistent and played better rugby than their town fellows (Eastern Province) and we are worried about them but I hope we will be able to take them just like any other side.
“From last year we have the likes of Tawanda Ngosi Stephen Bhasera, Tinashe Gonese plus some of those who played for the Under-17 side, some who missed out due to various reasons but were in the system.
“So we expect a lot of competition and this is good for the game.
“The Under-17 side did well last year and that puts good pressure on us and I feel that we are able to do it this year not only with talented players but players that are able to follow the game structure.
“Last year, we had the likes of Jabulani Mutukwa, Thabani Mujeni, Brendon Mandivenga and Daniel Moolman and the intensity of the late Nicholas Burnett lit the stadium alive and that was a pretty much strong side,” said the former Sables coach.
Youth Weeks Fixtures:
Under-18 Day 1: Limpopo Blue Bulls v Griqualand W CD, Eastern Province CD v Zimbabwe, Griffons v Border, South Western Districts v KwaZulu-Natal, Western Province vs. Pumas
Day 2: Griqualand West v Border Country Districts, Namibia v Leopards, Valke vs. Boland, Blue Bulls v Eastern Province, Lions v Free State.
Under-16 Day 1: Western Province v Border, KZN v Lions, EP v Free State, Boland v Pumas, Blue Bulls v SWD, Valke v Griffons, Namibia v Limpopo, Griquas v Zimbabwe, Griquas CD v Leopards, Blue Bulls XV v Border CD. (*Day 2 and 3 TBA)
Schedule: Under-18 Craven Week July 13–19 (HTS Middelburg), Under-18 Academy Week July 6 –10 (Wellington), Under-16 Grant Khomo Week July 6 – 10 (Pretoria), Under-13 Craven Week June 29–July 4 (Durban), LSEN Week June 29- July 4 July (TBA)