Zimbabwe Rugby Union announces academy’s sponsors and squad

The Sables Trust Chairman relishes the continued support by the corporate world in rebuilding rugby in Zimbabwe.

Zimbabwe Rugby Union (ZRU) yesterday, announced the academy's sponsors and a 43-man provisional squad that will be based in Cape Town for their camp starting on the 21st of April as matches commence on the 4th of May.

The Sables Trust headed by Gerald Mlotshwa has ensured that the team is catered for as they have for the third year roped in international mining investment company Zerttew Resources as the main sponsor along with Portnex International, a South African ferrochrome producer and trading company and Zimbabwean attorney firm Titan Law as making up the rest of the team.

International sports brand BLK will be the Zimbabwe Rugby Academy official kit sponsor.

The Sables Trust Chairman relishes the continued support by the corporate world in rebuilding rugby in Zimbabwe.

"The support that we have been getting [as the Sables trust] continues from what I like to call our all-weather sponsors, namely Titan Law, Portnex International and a very special thank you to Zerttew Resources who have stepped up and agreed to bankroll the bulk of the expenses for the side that is travelling for the SuperSport Challenge.

"They [Zerttew Resources] are catering for, I would say, about 80% of those expenses – the other sponsors will chip in as well. Zerttew Resources continued support for Zimbabwe rugby is truly appreciated and it will not go unnoticed," said Gerald Mlotshwa.

Main sponsors Zerttew Resources pledged to continue the relationship with the Sables Trust and Zimbabwe Rugby Union (ZRU) in a shared vision to amplify the steady growth of the senior team in Zimbabwe.

Zerttews' human resources and office manager Tendai Pasipamire spoke on the growth of the relationship.

"Zerttew Resources is proud to be associated with rugby in Zimbabwe. Last year we sponsored the Zimbabwe Sables to the tune of US$1 million dollars.

"The sponsorship took care of the Zimbabwe Men's National team welfare for both the players and the technical team, amongst other costs"

"Our main objective was to ensure that when all financial issues were taken care of, our sporting professionals could focus on the task, which was to win the Africa Cup.

"As part of an international exploration and mining resources development group, we would also like to see our contribution foster better governance in the sport in this country. Our participation in sponsorship, should we hope to be seen as a partnership.

"We would like a long-term relationship with rugby in Zimbabwe and hence we are kicking off our involvement this year with sponsorship of the Zimbabwe Rugby Academy. Once again, we will endeavour to ensure that player welfare is our ultimate priority.

"We know that our boys will do us proud in South Africa and we are excited to be part of that success," said Pasipamire.

ZRU- Vice President Losson Mtongwiza expressed his gratitude towards the continued support and generosity by all stakeholders for Zimbabwean Rugby.

"I would like to thank Zerttew Resources for the confidence that they have shown in Zimbabwe rugby for the second year running, we are very honoured and grateful for your support and we would like our relationship to continue.

"I would like to also thank Portnex International and Titan Law for their support it is really a team with Zerttew Resources as their captain. The Sables have been given the most support last year and this year as well, Gerald Mlotshwa and his team have been instrumental in us achieving our dreams.

"We want to build a team that will not only play in this year's SuperSport Challenge Cup but a team that will be promoted into the Currie Cup and to go all the way into a Super Rugby team.

"Zimbabwe has the talent, Zimbabwe has the personnel and if we all came together we will be able to come up with something massive. The media has supported us with fantastic reports, even when we are criticized, it is the right thing because it helps us to learn and pick ourselves up.

"We now have a new sponsor BLK who are coming on board as our kit sponsors for the Zimbabwe Rugby Academy," said Losson Mtongwiza.

Former Sables forward and seasoned coach Brandon Dawson will be taking charge of the Zimbabwe Rugby Academy coaching team – having had successful stints with the various national side, the gaffer is confident of positive developments ahead of the SuperSport Challenge.

"It is an honour to be in a position to coach the academy it is a great way we can start to develop us to develop and look forward to the future of Zimbabwe rugby.

"We have to start developing form the bottom from under-18,19 and '20s bringing those sort of guys at that age group into the national set-up and giving an opportunity to the guys that are playing in and outside the country opportunity to show their talent.

"Entering into the SuperSport Challenge gives us the opportunity to start this plan of ours, in saying that we have all got to understand that it is a massive task," said Dawson.

(With Inputs from APO)