JAYSON KARAN
CHRISTIAN Brothers College Hornets were crowned winners of the Bulawayo Metropolitan Rugby Football Board (BMRFB) Under-20 League after topping the standings with 25 points from five matches when the tournament concluded on Saturday at Hartsfield Rugby Grounds.
The Hornets concluded their campaign this term with a 40-5 victory over Old Miltonians to win the first tournament of the year.
CBC won the same title in 2022
“I’m very excited with the way the boys played throughout the campaign which is evidence of the hard work that the rest of the team put in,” said Themba Phiri, who was standing in for the Hornets head coach, Nelson Madida.
“It feels great to be the champions, the boys have been putting in some hard work and we have had some new players coming in made up of Form Fours and they are jelling in with the rest of the senior players. If the boys continue with the team unity, playing together as a team, I think we will go far,” added Phiri.
CBC Hornets also managed to get some of the individual awards. Ethan Ferguson who played well during this year’s campaign was awarded the top scorer award while Michael Chimedza received the Best Attacking Player award. Nelson Mandida who was unavailable on Saturday was awarded the Coach of the Tournament award.
“It is a great honor to receive such an award and to win the tournament as we have been playing against great teams and great players in the league,” said Ethan Ferguson.
CBC Hornets ended this year’s campaign undefeated and and are hoping to carry their current form to the next tournament which will happen at Hartsfield Rugby Grounds from 31st March to 1 April 2023.
This tournament is going to attract teams from around the country and beyond the borders.
Some of the teams expected to take part in the two-day rugby feast are the Milton Elephants, Churchill Bulldogs and Allan Wilson Sables from Harare, Botswana Under-19 Vultures, Western Suburbs Panthers, Hornets, Lomagundi Bisons, Plumtree Amabhubesi, Wise Owl and Petra Spartans.
“This is going to be a tough tournament as we will be facing stronger and harder opponents. The boys are ready and we are looking forward to the tournament and to win it,” said Jerome Sibanda, a CBC Hornets fan.
More festivals are expected to take place this year.