Paul Munyuki Sports Reporter
HE might be the smallest man on the field, but the power of the whistle makes the biggest, strongest and most feared players not only listen to him but respect, honour and go with what he says. Meet 12-year-old rugby referee in the making Anodiwa “Arnold” Chilunda who is the youngest match official but has the biggest dream at the ongoing Dairibord Schools Rugby Festival at Prince Edward School.

BIG DREAMS . . . Young referee Anotida Chilundu (second from right) monitors a scrum situation shadowing veteran referee, Dave Mathews, yesterday during Glen View 2’s 5-0 win over Kuwadzana 1. — (Picture by Innocent Makawa)

BIG DREAMS . . . Young referee Anotida Chilundu (second from right) monitors a scrum situation shadowing veteran referee, Dave Mathews, yesterday during Glen View 2’s 5-0 win over Kuwadzana 1. — (Picture by Innocent Makawa)

The jovial, energetic and humble Chilundu stands at a height just above that of a scrum in action but that does not count when he calls the shots – it’s all about doing as he says – and wishes to become an international referee.

Yesterday he was running shadow under the guidance of Dave Mathews at Allan Wilson’s Sable field, one of the many being used for the weeklong festival.
“I have always loved doing this, my mother (Juddy) and brother who has since resigned from the refereeing the game have motivated me a lot and I have the passion to carry on doing this.

“I used to play rugby at my school (Herentals) in Tynwald but I have since concentrated on refereeing because it is something I love doing.
“It is not just about listening to what the senior referees say to me but at home my mum also hlps me because she gives me past exam papers which she marks for me afterwards we rives and where I would have gone wrong she corrects me.

“It’s so fortunate I have someone who supports me in this not just by word of mouth but action as well. I joined the association last year, I was a bit afraid but that (fear) has since disappeared and I am getting more confident all the time.

“ In all the games I have been involved at the festival I enjoyed the game between Glen View 2 High and Kuwadzana , I think am getting better and I believe that some day I will be an international referee,” said Anotida.

Anotida’s involvement in the game is very much welcomed by the Zimbabwe Rugby Referees Society and assessor and educator Walter Njowa believes Anotida has a lot of potential in him as he shows a lot of enthusiasm.

“He came through his mother Judith Chilundu who is also a referee but the boy is very ethusiatic and wants to learn and given correct guidance he will be very good at his game. He is only 12 and imagine how he will be in the next four or five years.

“We are on a drive to get more persons to come along and be referees. When most people think of rugby all that goes through their mind is playing but for the game to be played we also need referees.

“Coaches and other former and current players are also coming through and that is something we encourage a lot. As for these young referees like Arnold, we get them to be guided by a senior referee and once they are able to stand on their own, then we give them games in primary schools,” said Njowa.

But running in high school game was an exciting experience for Anotida with Mathews – who is way above his fifties – saying the future of refereeing looks bright.

“We are getting old and will not be able to take to the field and that is where development comes in. He is a very enthusiastic referee and he is not the only one mind you because we also have girls and other young boys coming through as well.

“ It will take time for them though to mature and that is why we keep encouraging them to continue,” said Mathews.
Anotida feels that there should be more referees of his age taking part ion the game as officials.

“I encourage more of my age to come take part because its not only about being the cehtrre referee but we also get to run touch (assistant referee), there is good guidance and its fun,” he said.

Paul Munyuki Sports Reporter
THE Zimbabwe Rugby Union are one of the sides that have thrown their bids to host next year’s edition of the Junior World Rugby Trophy and World Rugby competitions operations manager Simon Kibbles was in the country yesterday. Kibbles held a string of meeting with the Sports Commission, ZRU and a number of other stakeholders as he also inspected facilities likely to be used for the next edition of the games if Zimbabwe win the bid.

Kibble also visited health facilities that included Avenues Clinic, hotels and playing venues and was also at the Dairibord Schools Rugby Festival currently underway at Prince Edward in the company of ZRU chief executive Colleen de Jong.

According to ZRU general manager Kibble believes Zimbabwe has some of the best facilities, good enough to host the annual tournament.
“He was impressed with the facilities we have here he went to see the health and medical facilities we wil be using, hotels and proposed match venues and he hinted that he was ihappy about what he have exhibited.

“The dates of the tournament are yet to be set though but once all that has gone through, we will know of the time the tournament will take place,” said Made.
The Zimbabwe Under-20 side has not qualified for the JWRT in the last three years, Namibia dominating as they are also set to take part in this year’s edition of the tournament in Portugal.

However, Zimbabwe are this year hoping to qualify for next year’s tournament whose qualifiers are set for Harare in August and winning to host next year’s competition would give them an automatic slot at the three week long tournament.

The only African country to ever have hosted the JWRT was Kenya in 2009, Russia hosted in 2010, Georgia in 2011 with the United States of America taking care of the 2012 edition of the tournament. Last year the event was hosted by Japan while Chile hosted the 2013 edition.

Made believes that Zimbabwe has the capacity to host the global tournament as they have hosted the Junior Africa Cup twice in the last four years and hosting the Junior Africa Cup this year will make it three times in four years.

“We have hosted the Junior Africa Cup twice before, we are hosting it again this year and this gives us enough reason to believe that we are capable of hosting the JWRT. The fact that we have applied to host the tournament means we have the capacity to do so.

“We know we can do better than other countries that have hosted the event before so at the moment we just have to wait for deliberations at World Rugby level and I am sure after this year’s JWRT in Portugal we will know of our position,” added the former Harare Province chairman

Day Three Festival Results
Jubilee Field: Mzilikazi 10, Glen Norah 0; Lord Malvern 15, Sobukazi 12; Girls High School 40, Dzivarasekwa 1 0; Atexis  36, Chaplin High 0; Girls High 30, Mbare High 0; Herentals 12,  Mt Pleasant 5.

Avenues Field: Christ Ministries 6, St Pauls 0; BP Study Centre 12, Victoria 19; Harare High 0,  Gaza 3; Cranborne 36, Highfield 1 0.

Rhodes Field – All Girls: Royal College 20, Kuwadzana 1 5; Kuwadzana 2 5, Amhlope 10; George Staark 22, Tafara 2 High 15; Mufakose 5 , Herentals 5;  Hatfield  22,
Queen Elizabeth 12; Morgan High 5, Highfield High 1 0.

Sable Field – Under-16: Mt Pleasant 15,  Lord Malvern 0;  Zengeza 1 0, George Staark 0;  Sobukazi 0 , Victoria High 10; Highfield 1 5, Presbyterian 0.

Form book maintained at Dairi-Fest

St Johns (Green) take on Eaglesvale

St Johns (Green) take on Eaglesvale

Paul Munyuki Sports Reporter
Most games went according to the form book today at the Dairibord Schools Rugby Festival at Prince Edward with only Petra causing the upset of the day following a 14-12 win over Watershed College.

There was also a rather unfortunate incident that forced Peterhouse not to play Prince Edward in what was supposed to be the penultimate game of the day when the visitors pulled out due to an accident.

St John's winger tears through hapless Eaglesvale defence Part one

St John’s winger tears through hapless Eaglesvale defence Part one

However, it was business as usual for the other teams, St Georges College ascertaining their dominance over Midlands Christian College with a 48-12 thumping of the Gweru-based School, Kyle College beating Allan Wilson 43-0.

Part two of a very fast winger (All pictures by Innocent Makawa)

Part two of a very fast winger (All pictures by Innocent Makawa)

Falcon with a hard fought 21-7 win over Churchill. Eaglesvale started the festival with a  27-5 loss at the hands of St Johns College as they restricted the Rams to one try in the second half adding one unconverted effort to their name.

Going into the break, MCC were trailing 12-17 but they were completely shut out in the second half where they were starved of the ball and were not good doing into contact, George’s taking advantage of their superiority.

A fan agonises over a missed chance

A fan agonises over a missed chance

All the Saints did was to make sure they kept a watertight defence and capitalised on MCC’s mistakes and this was worsened after MCC lost their captain Tamuka Pamire to a shoulder injury after as he had to be stretchered off the field.

“We let ourselves down because we made too many errors and they capitalized on our weaknesses. We were meant to play to a set pattern and structure but we did not stick to it. It being our first game I am sure we noted our mistakes and that is what we have to work on tomorrow (today).

A full house is always guaranteed at the Dairi-Fest no matter which day of the week

A full house is always guaranteed at the Dairi-Fest no matter which day of the week

“The situation was aggravated by the fact that we lost our captain to an injury and he had to be referred to the hospital and that just demoralized the boys as well but I am sure we will be a better team in our next game,” said MCC coach Marvin Chirume.

It was a different case for Kyle College under the guidance of Sables scrummy Charles Jiji who has been in charge of the Masvingo school since last year as they got their campaign off to winning start over Victor Pekani’s Allan Wilson.

Chuchhill takes on Falcon College

Chuchhill takes on Falcon College

“It was good that we won but outside the score I do not feel that we executed our game plan as much as we were supposed to but the boys at least managed to dominate at contact and in set-plays.

“There are a number of new [players in the team, players that we did not travel with our pre-season tour abroad so it was more of us trying to jell. We played a dull first half but it was good to note that we were on top of our game in the first half.

Accident stalls Peterhouse’s participation

Peterhouse

Peterhouse

Paul Munyuki Sports Reporter

PETERHOUSE College have spoiled the party on the second day of the Dairibord schools rugby festival after pulling out of their game against Prince Edward School at the last minute.

The Kings were due to take on the Tigers in the penultimate game of the day but with an hour to go they gave notice that they were no longer able to play after “two of the schools parents passed on.”

According to PE Tigers coach Sean de Souza the Marondera-based side:
“Have indicated they will not be able to make it for their game against us as they say they have lost two of the schools parents”.

Prince Edward are now hoping to take on Kyle College – who have the largest squad at the festival.

“We hope it materialises,” said de Souza.

Meanwhile, Petra High school have pulled a shocker on Day Two of the festival with a 14-12 win over Hillcrest College.

Most of the games have so far gone according to the form book in the senior teams division where St Georges College thrashed Midlands Christian College 48-12, while Kyle College got the better of Allan Wilson 43-0.

Dairi-fest Day 2 Results

Jubilee Field: Watershed 18, Marlborough 8; Hillcrest 12, Petra 14; Lomagundi 45, Ellis Robbins 0; Kyle College 43, Allan Wilson 0; St Georges College 48, MCC 12; Avenues Field: LKC 27, Mutare Boys 8; Gifford 41, Heritage 12; Benard Mzeki 18, Kutama 3; Chapel Field Under-16: Heritage 3, Lomagundi  36; Kyle College 14, MCC 38; Prince Edward 28, Petra 0; Watershed 43, St Georges College 7; St Ignatious 5, Goromonzi 8 (first team).

 

 

Tuesday April 28 Fixture List

Lomagundi v Ellis Robbins (10.10am), Kyle v Allan Wilson (11.20am), St Georges College v MCC (1.30pm), Eaglesvale v St Johns College (2.40pm), Peterhouse v Prince Edward (3pm), Churchill v Falcon (4.10pm)

PE Tigers set for battle against Peterhouse

Prince Edward clashed with Trust Academy today.

Prince Edward clashed with Trust Academy today.

Paul Munyuki Sports Reporter
Prince Edward Tigers coach Sean de Souza knows a lot is expected of his side when they take on Peterhouse Kings in the penultimate game of Tuesday, having won all their three games at the Dairibord Schools Rugby Festival last year.

Tuesday marks the real deal when big business gets underway at the Dairi-fest with the big boys of schools rugby clashing at Prince Edward.

“That we won three out of three last year reflects on the high level of quality of players we have at PE and that we exhibited a good standard of play but we must not forget that those wins were not a walk in the park, we had to sweat for them.

“We have a fairly reasonable side that has quite a number of new blood coming through from last year’s second team and they are still trying to settle, It’s good that we managed to have two tours one to South Africa and the other to Namibia but Tuesday (today) will determine how far we are,” said de Souza.

Former Zimbabwe Under-20 coach Geoffrey Madhake’s Churchill will bring the curtain down n the day with a clash against former Sables coach Brandon Dawson’s Falcon College in the final game of the day.

Like Monday, the games are set to kick-off at 8am across all the five scheduled fields, but it is from 12.40 that most rugby enthusiasts will be glued to their seats at the main Jubilee Field where Eaglesvale entertain St John’s College (1:50pm), Peterhouse take on hosts Prince Edward (3pm) before the final game between Churchill Bulldogs and Falcon College at 4:10pm also at Jubilee.

Eaglesvale ready for first test

Paul Munyuki Sports Reporter
RISING schools rugby giant Eaglesvale are looking forward to their challenge when they take on giants St Johns College in thier opening fixture of the Dairibord Schools Rugby Festival on Tuesday.

Hosts of the weeklong festival Prince Edward are set to take on the Peterhouse Kings at 3pm while ‘Vale entertains St John’s College marking the return of the “Big Boys Club” to business having watched the non traditional rugby playing schools on Monday.

Coached by Sables mentor Cyprian “Supa” Mandenge, Eaglesvale last year caused huge upsets beating the likes of Churchill 17-10 and over the last three years he has managed to turn around the fortunes of the Lytton-based school.

However, 11 of the players that were in his side have since graduated from high school.

“We are always excited about playing the so called big boys because it gives us the exposure we have always wanted and at times we are overlooked as some call us a small team. Yes we are a small school in terms of numbers but we also have the talent and skill to match any other school and this is good for the boys because it’s not always about winning.

“There is not much pressure on us, I believe pressure comes from the coaches and all I want for my boys is to see them enjoy, I want them to play to the set game structure, defend and attack according to how we trained.

“Eleven of the players we had last year are no longer part of the side and so we are almost a developing side, we know it is going to be tough against St John’s but we have to give our all. We have a name (Eaglesvale) to protect and there is a lot of pride to play for.

“We just have to get the basics right, give a lot of attention in attack and put equally good attention when in comes to attacking,” said the Sables coach.

Four top quality games billed to take place from lunch, the tone of the festival is expected to change today with the clash of the traditional schools rugby giants in Jubilee Field starting with the game between St Georges College against Midlands Christian College.

MCC have not been on tour prior to the festival and they will only get to play as a team this afternoon for the first time this year and coach Marvin Chirume says all he is interested in is his boys maintaining structure.

“If the boys come out and play showing that they are able to maintain structure and stick to the game plan then i will be very very happy because its only our first game and once we are past this first knock I am sure we will know the kind of team we have,” said the former Young Sables assistant coach.

BACK IN BUSINESS . . . Talented Mbare Academy will once again to be the star attraction at the Dairibord Schools Rugby Festival that gets underway at Prince Edward School in Harare today. — (Picture by Tawanda Bote)

BACK IN BUSINESS . . . Talented Mbare Academy will once again to be the star attraction at the Dairibord Schools Rugby Festival that gets underway at Prince Edward School in Harare today. — (Picture by Tawanda Bote)

Paul Munyuki Sports Reporter
IT’S all systems go when Oriel Boys High and Cranborne Boys High clash today in the opening game of this year’s edition of the Dairibord Schools Rugby Festival, which is largely expected to be one of the best Prince Edward has ever hosted.

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As with the tradition of the festival, non-traditional rugby-playing schools and newcomers to the sport will feature today, on Wednesday and Friday while the schools giants take to the field on the other days including Saturday when the curtain comes down on this exciting event.

Jubilee Field will host the big games but Avenues Field will also see Tynwald and Entumbane doing battle, while Goldridge and Marist Nyanga square off at Chapel Field in the opening games of the festival at 8am today.
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As has been the case in the past years, the festival has grown both in quality and numbers with more school girls also taking part in the festival that once was an all boys competition.

A total of 30 girls teams have joined this year’s rugby jamboree with seven of them, namely Queen Elizabeth, Herentals, Mt Pleasant, Zengeza 1, Zengeza 4, Hermain Gmeiner (Bindura) and Amhlope (Bulawayo), making a first appearance.

Two girls fixtures have been lined-up for today, first Girls High take on Roosevelt in the main Jubilee Field at 11am while schools league champions Vainona will entertain Mbare’s George Stark on the same field at 2pm with Rhodes Field reserved for the other girls matches.

Only one foreign team, Livingstone Kolobeng College of Botswana, has confirmed participation and the festival promises to be an even more exciting event despite the fact that Windhoek Technical School of Namibia, Die Anker from South Africa and Botswana Under-19 have indicated they will not be able to turn up for the jamboree.

However, it is the local schools that most of the rugby enthusiasts at the event will be interested in and definitely this year, the organisers have paired teams strength on strength as some of the big fixtures will include the PE and Peterhouse clash tomorrow, and the Churchill versus Falcon College duel on the same day.

On Thursday, the PE Tigers go up against the Churchill Bulldogs in what should be an explosive contest at 3pm.

Matches will take place throughout the week at five grounds at PE and neighbouring Allan Wilson.

The fields are Jubilee, Avenues, Chapel, Rhodes and Sable. Some of the big clashes in store at the rugby fiesta are the fixtures between St George’s College and St John’s College in the final game of the day on Thursday and the 11:30am game between Kyle College and Eaglesvale on the same day.

Festival director Sebastian Garikai says there’s a big reason behind this move.

“The reason we have teams paired strength on strength is to make sure that selectors would use this event as a preliminary selection platform for those teams and players that will then go on to represent Zimbabwe in the various competitions.

“We have the youth tournaments played in South Africa from the Under-13s to Under-18s and despite the fact that provincial and national trials will be held according to the Zimbabwe Rugby Union calender, we as Prince Edward and the hosts of this festival felt we have a role to play as well,” said the Sables team manager.

Of course, over the past years there have been a number of mismatches in terms of team strengths and this is one thing Prince Edward would like to avoid inorder to increase excitement and improve the quality of competition. New teams in the boys category include Atexis, Mbare Bulls Rugby Academy, Budiriro 1 High School and Hatcliffe Rugby Academy that are expected to make their debut appearances, while Loxely and St Paul’s Musami of Murewa are making a return in the boys section, having missed out over the last few years.

 

 

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