Published by the government of Zimbabwe
Paul Munyuki
18 June 2008
Harare — ZIMBABWE will only know of the fate of their World Cup and Africa Cup qualifier next Wednesday when the Confederation of African Rugby meet to discuss the issue.
The Sables are scheduled to host Senegal at Hartsfield in Bulawayo on July 12.
But the West Africans have been refusing to fulfil the game, claiming they feared for their security in Bulawayo and have been trying to push CAR to arrange the game at a neutral venue.
Senegal were in Windhoek, Namibia, last Saturday where they fell 10-13 to the hosts.
Although the Senegalese have tried to dramatise the situation in the country, Sables team manager Losson Mtongwiza said the International Rugby Board had indicated that the game would remain in Zimbabwe.
"Cliffy Booysen, who is the International Rugby Board regional development manager for Africa, told us the game is still in Zimbabwe at Hartsfield.
"The final decision on whether or not the game would be moved is only going to be made on June 25 at the CAR executive meeting on the June 25 in Madagascar," said Mtongwiza.
Zimbabwe Rugby Union president Bruce Hobson said his union would fight to ensure the game would not be moved from Bulawayo.
"We are still trying to keep the match in Bulawayo. There is no need for us to play at a neutral venue when we have teams from other disciplines playing Zimbabwe.
"The Namibia soccer team was recently in Zimbabwe, and we (Zimbabwe) hosted the Zone VI athletics and basketball championships the same weekend.
"So, we have written to the IRB telling them that there will no be problem if we play Senegal at home," said Hobson.
ZRU, Hobson also said, had proposed the postponement of the Senegal match to a later date in August as the only acceptable alternative.
Meanwhile, in the Northern Rugby League, Districts Dragons maintained their winning streak as the edged rivals Old Hararians 25-23 in a league match at Old Georgians on Saturday.
The determined youthful Old Boys side showed that they have a bright future ahead of them as they gave the more experienced Dragons a tough time.
Across town at Harare Sports Club, the hosts bounced back to their winning ways with a 75-5 hiding of hapless Alex Sports Club.
But the Sports Club II against Marondera game did not take place after the Mashonaland East side failed to travel to Harare allegedly because of a communication breakdown as they "thought they were playing hosts".
NRL Results
District Dragons 25, Old Hararians 23; Airforce 50 Mufakose Untouchables 17; Harare Sports Club 75, Alex Sports Club 5; Old Hararians II 31, District Dragons II 27 (friendly).
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