Friday, April 15, 2011

Boost for Mbare Rugby Academy - Newsday: Everyday News for Everyday People

Boost for Mbare Rugby Academy - Newsday: Everyday News for Everyday People

One of United Kingdom’s leading sports tour operators Sports Travel Tours, said they will revamp the Mbare Junior School rugby ground to meet international standards.

Speaking at the school during a ceremony where they donated rugby gear to the academy on Thursday, Edwin Doran, the company’s general manager revealed to NewsDay Sport about this ambitious project which they think will be completed next year.

“The first school that will tour Zimbabwe next year will have the priviledge to put a proper rugby turf here (Mbare school rugby ground). I work for a Sports Travel tours and one of our projects next year is to put rugby turfs in countries we will tour next year,” assured Doran.

Doran’s company organised this year’s Independent Schools Barbarians’ weeklong visit to the country.

The Barbarians, whose tour finished with a clash against Goshawks Thursday afternoon at St John’s College took a morning off to donate three sets of jerseys, rugby boots, balls and clothes to the academy which is known for producing stars like the Germany-based winger Manasah Sita.

Doran, who is also the team manager said: “We want to make sure that all the schools that will tour Zimbabwe and other parts of Africa will bring kits and other equipment to give to the children,” said Doran.

“I don’t want to put a commercial value to what we gave to the children today (Thursday) but I can say the little we gave have put smiles in their faces.”
Academy coach Victor Pekani, who received a similar donation from Sita last month said he was happy with the gesture given by the Barbarians.

“I must thank Atherston Squire, the deputy headmaster of St John’s College for co-coordinating this event and he has also been helping the academy with a lot of things.

“To the Barbarians, I just want to say, may God bless them for what they have done today. They could have gone to better schools like Hellenics or Borrowdale, but they chose to be with us here so we are very grateful,” said the visibly elated Pekani.

allAfrica.com: Zimbabwe: Cuban Cultural Group to Grace Uhuru Celebrations

allAfrica.com: Zimbabwe: Cuban Cultural Group to Grace Uhuru Celebrations

ALMENDRA Cultural Group from Cuba is expected in the country for a performance at the Independence celebrations to be held at the National Sports Stadium on April 18.

The nine-member cultural outfit, which plays samba music, is on its tour of Southern Africa courtesy of the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority.ZTA head of public relations and corporate communications Sugar Chagonda said the visit was in solidarity with the people of Zimbabwe as they were coming at a time when the country is celebrating its hard-won independence.

"The visit by the Cuban Cultural outfit further enhances cultural ties between Zimbabwe and Cuba, a true national ally that has continued to support the cause of the country," he said.

The visit by Almendra provides not only an opportunity for them to showcase their talent but also to cement the bilateral relations between the two countries.

The Cuban government and their Zimbabwean counterparts view the visit as a cultural exchange programme aimed at boosting tourism between two countries.

Cordial relations between the two countries date back to the liberation struggle when Zimbabwe received assistance from Cuba."We also intend to give them (the Cubans) a tour around some of our country's major tourist attractions so that they get a better appreciation of our tourism product and perhaps we can take a reciprocal visit in future," said Chagonda.

Cuba is honoured in celebrating Zimbabwe's independence since the two countries suffered at the expense of the United States embargo.

A reception was escheduled at the Portuguese Club in Harare last night) where guests were expected to be treated to samba music. A diplomats' dinner will be held at Pandhari Lodge on April 19.

Apart from Zimbabwe, the cultural group is set to travel to Angola, South Africa, Namibia and Zambia as part of its Southern Africa tour.