ZRU roll out funds

THE Zimbabwe Rugby Union (ZRU) yesterday took their first steps towards disbursing the €5 000 from Rugby Africa, with a huge chunk going towards clubs and players, while the rest will go towards procuring the required personal protective equipment (PPE) as recommended by the Sports and Recreation Commission (SRC).

At a handover ceremony held at ZRU president Aaron Jani’s Milton Park offices, the union revealed that €3 000 of the grant has gone into the relief of players, coaches and clubs, while €2 000 will be used to buy PPE required for the safe return of the sport.

Part of the €3 000 has been used to purchase 243 bags of mealie-meal and 181 food hampers.

An additional 19 food hampers were donated by PRObrands to take the total number of food hampers to 200, which will go to the senior Cheetahs and Sables team members, including the technical teams.

“Rugby Africa have been very generous and these funds have come in at the right time, as some of our players, coaches and clubs will benefit from them,” ZRU vice president Losson Mtongwiza said. “After a lot of discussions and meetings by the board, we decided to put together a three-person committee who will examine the funds that we have, what we need and then recommend how best to disburse the grant. We are going to look after a lot of people, with the mealie-meal going to the 61 clubs. The mealie-meal will go a long way in helping them, because it is over 240 pieces that will be distributed.

“As for the food hampers, these will go to the national team players, the referees and a few other stakeholders that have been identified and selected.

“We are aware that we will not be able to cover everyone, but this is the beginning,” he said.

As for the criteria, Mtongwiza added, “the national team players and referees will include those that were on duty during the 2019 calendar year.

“We have also left room for one or two former national team players and referees whom we feel may be vulnerable and have included them on the list. The secretariat and the union will also get something,” he said.