Mbare Rugby Academy - A Shinning Light

You hear Mbare and you think; hustlers, poverty, theft and filth. Not many if any good things about the area. Located in Harare the area is home to Zimbabwe’s biggest and most successful soccer team. However, born from this rubble is a rugby academy.

In 2007 Milton Rankeni and Victor Pekani decided to develop the game. They have help from the Zimbabwe Rugby Union when the Union can. With little to no funds they have managed to produce a handful of players for the Zimbabwe under 13, under16, under 18 and 7′s teams.

Teams train on Sundays from 9am to 5pm. The coaches that assist Victor and Milton are volunteers
and all hold the same vision and dream. To grow the game in Zimbabwe, bring out the best in under-priviledged kids who are all required to be in school and be studying.

Each session has in excess over 150 players. A ratio of 70-30% between boys and girls present.

I decided to visit.

It was a drizzling, blue Sunday. My thoughts where thinking of all the possible permutations between the Chelsea and Manchester United clash.

I arrived at Harare Sports Club to watch Mbare Rugby Academy training. Five coaches split in between the three groups of fourty-five players. Basics being drilled into the youngsters who range in age from five to twenty one.

I was particularly amazed at the size of the players. All quite small, and hardly a difference between
the backs and the forwards. The coaches echoed my observations of the player’s high skill level.

As much as skill is important size is also equally important. A project that continues to grow as the academy name continues to grow.

Two wins over St George’s u16, several national age-group side players produced and a successful
showing at the Middelburg tournament.

A tour to South Africa later in the year should prove to be a success.

@bchanakira2