Kitwe Schools Zonal Tag Rugby Festivals – 11th June, 2011

The first ever Zonal Kitwe schools tag rugby festivals were held at 3 schools, Miseshi, Riverain, and Buseko Basic schools.

Coaching programs and teacher trainer course which were conducted by Kodzo Williams & Tate Oulton, TagRugby Coach Volunteers from United Kingdom who visited Kitwe from 29th March, – 8th April 2011 paid off as the standards of coaching by sports teachers has improved.

more pics below

The main reason for zoning the festivals was to reduce on the logistical costs incurred by schools as tag rugby programs do not have a sponsor yet. School Boards fund the tag rugby programs. The other reason is make rugby as a sport popular in the townships were schools are located and to have mass participation from the girl child who were normally left behind as more boys were chosen
to represent the schools teams.

It is for this reason that the next zonal festival to be held on 2nd July 2011 will feature GIRLS ONLY.

1. Southern Zone. Comprises of Kalela, Justin Kabwe, Wesley Nyirenda, SOS Childrens Village, Ndeke Basic & Miseshi.
Teams played a round robin tournament with traditional tag rugby schools Miseshi & Wesley Nyirenda battling it out in tight and entertaing game.
Results (showing scores)
Wesley Nyirenda 7
Miseshi 6
Ndeke 5
Kalela 2
SOS Children’s Village 1

2. Central Zone. Comprises of Matete, St Johns Convent, Riverain,Valley View(4 Drew),Rhokana,Kitwe
Basic, Schools
Valley View, popularly known as 4Drew still in their 2009 tour t-shirts kit. They insist on wearing something bearing Drew Wayment name emerged as winners of the Zone. Matete on the come back will need a lot of games to catch up.
Results (showing scores)
Valley View (4Drew) 15
Riverain 12
Kitwe Basic 11
Matete 2

3. Northern Zone. Comprises of Romily/Chibusa(FOSC),Kampemba,Kamitondo,Natwange& Buseko Basic, Mama Monty Schools

Friends of Street Children at Romily & Chibusa Homes have just got in home care new children who will soon be brought in rugby, as most of the old children have been integrated back in the community.
Buseko featured two teams A& B and the A team emerged victorious with a large capacity crowd from surrounding Buchi township cheering ‘we need some pressure, pressure’ during a very tight game against Kamitondo officiated by our ‘super’’ volunteer Oliver Mulenga.
Results (showing scores)
Buseko Á’ 12
Kamitondo 11
Kampemba 9
Buseko ‘B’ 6

At the same time a Talent Identification Program (TIP) on girl- child rugby promotion was conducted and 14 under13 girls were identified and will be part of Kitwe Playing Fields Women’s Rugby academy under Hein & Christo Havenga.

Thanks to Lisa Holmyard (past TRT volunteer) from Gloucester Girls Rugby Charitable Trust for kind donation of shirts which were presented to Ndeke teachers who will spear head the local project. More kit from Lisa has been received will be presented to the Girls at the girls ONLY festivals.

Finally, thanks to, Elasto, Monde and Henry for excellent organisation. Not forgetting super Volunteers
Mary& Oliver ,young leaders Misheck, Bright & Patrick for officiating & Kabwe Mwamba for recording
scores and time keeping at Miseshi.

This clearly showed that the legacy left behind by Coaching programs and teacher trainer course which
were conducted by Kodzo Williams & Tate Oulton, is still fresh and the schools are looking forward to the
next festivals to be held on 2nd July 2011 will feature GIRLS ONLY and the newly introduced Copperbelt
Cup Festival to be held in September 2011.

I salute you all
(Twatotela, Dzikomo)
Mwamba Mofu Christopher
Volunteer ZRFU Copperbelt Schools & Tag Rugby Trust Country Coordinator