Jani set to take over ZRU

Petros Kausiyo Deputy Sports Editor
HARARE businessman Aaron Jani is set to be installed as the next substantive Zimbabwe Rugby Union president after he emerged as a front runner at the close of nominations yesterday.

After being run by an interim committee since the suspension of Nyararai Sibanda’s executive by the Sport and Recreation Commission, the ZRU will on Saturday elect a new substantive leadership at an extraordinary meeting at Prince Edward School.

Following Sibanda’s suspension the Sports Commission thrust Russell Karimazondo’s executive as the supreme sports body sought to deal with the internal fighting and the rot that had crippled business at the union.

Jani was later invited to also sit on that interim committee. As the ZRU affiliates completed their nominations in time for the 3pm deadline yesterday, it was Jani and Karimazondo’s names that featured on the papers. Both men are former Sables wingers. However, it is Jani who has virtually been voted into office and will now have to just wait for Saturday’s meeting to complete the constitutional formalities.

This is because his rival – Karimazondo – is constitutionally ineligible to stand for the presidency as he has not been involved in rugby in the last three years. Article 29.1 which deals with the composition of the board sets out the criteria for eligibility and states that:

Experience in leadership
Ability to conceptualise and analyse issues at policy level
Passion at understanding of rugby
Visionary and strategic thinker
Excellent interpersonal skills
Involvement in Zimbabwe rugby for at least three years.’’

It is that sixth close that literally eliminates Karimazondo from the race despite the former Old Georgians winger having been Midlands province’s choice for president. But of the nominations that were submitted by yesterday are anything to go by then, the stage was always set for Jani to finally get the chance to lead the ZRU.

The former Zimbabwe international who has previously served as ZRU vice-president and chairman of the Under-20 committee, could have Losson Mtongwiza and Martin Shone as his deputies. Ex-ZRU boss Mtongwiza could now bounce back as vice-president for the North while Shone was nominated for the Southern zone.

But unlike Jani for whom the coast is clear to take over as substantive president of the union, Mtongwiza and Shone have battles on their hands. The pair would have to contest with Tungamirai Mashungu and Dave Nash who have also been nominated for the vice-presidency of the North and South zones respectively.

But there is no doubting now that the focus will be on Jani as he prepares to take over the reign at the union. Ironically Jani lost to Sibanda with the deposed Bulawayo-based administrator being elected on a four-year term last year along with Noddy Kanyangarara as the vice-president for the North and Tapiwa Mangezi (South) last year.

Joseph Kunyetu who had been retained from the previous administration under John Falkenberg as treasurer but was also booted out together with Sibanda and his deputies following the Sports Commission move.

Now after a turbulent period during which the administrative problems severely impacted on the Sables’ Africa Cup campaign, the national league and the youth teams, domestic rugby family will get a chance to put in a substantive leadership at Prince Edward on Saturday that will have Jani at the helm. The elective special meeting is expected to be graced by Rugby Africa representative David Baird Smith.

World Rugby who help the ZRU with a development grant, have also been closely following developments at the union with the insistence on the staging of elections at the earliest possible time, among the key requirements.

But with most of their opponents having already begun preparations for the 2019 World Cup qualifiers, domestic rugby’s flagship side – the Sables – will no doubt be hoping that order is finally restored at the union under Jani, which could give them a chance to kick-start their own planning for the assignments.

Jani would have to hit the ground running and appoint a replacement for national coach Cyprian Mandenge in the Sables dressing room as there is very little time before the World Cup qualifiers start in June.

There are no such worries, however for Zimbabwe’s Rugby Sevens World Cup squad with Cheetahs coach Gilbert Nyamutsamba and team manager Donald Mangenje having already drawn a roadmap for preparations for the country’s participation at the global showcase in San Francisco, United States in July. After initially losing the battle to lead the ZRU to Sibanda, Jani now looks set to get an opportunity to implement some of the objectives he had set out ahead of the 2016 elections.

In his initial campaign for the top post, Jani reckoned that he has the capacity to change the fortunes of Zimbabwean rugby and promised to bring corporate confidence to the game.

“Being a former player I know the concerns of the players, their training and transport needs, kit, nutrition and allowances and those are some of the things that need to be addressed.

“As a former player, I am excited about the fact that I am having a shot at coming back into mainstream administration. My record speaks for itself, my commitment to rugby has been undoubted and I hope that the rugby community rewards me with the great honour of leading Zimbabwean rugby,’’ Jani said then. Now that domestic rugby family appears to have resolved to give him the chance that he so yearned for.

The ZRU also face a busy 2018 with the Cheetahs also scheduled to compete in the Hong Kong Sevens where they are trying to qualify for core status while the women will take part in the Africa Cup and the Under-18 Boys and Girls set to compete in the Youth Games.