01 March 2022
Sports Reporter
The outbreak of COVID-19 was a curse to sporting activities in many countries around the world.
The pandemic affected professional leagues everywhere suspending their activities to limit the spread of the virus.
According to WE forum the global value of the sports industry was estimated to be $471bn in 2018 – an increase of 45% since 2011 – and before coronavirus stopped play, the only trajectory seemed to be upwards. Now, every part of the sporting value chain has been affected, from athletes, teams and leagues, to the media that broadcast and cover games.
Sovereign Mwanyenya a local rugby player is one of the players whose career took a knock at the onset of the pandemic.
Mwanyenya was presented with an opportunity to play rugby abroad unfortunately he was unable to finish processing of his travel and residence documents so as to be able attend Fort Hare University.
Mwanyenya has not lost hope as he remains positive that the opportunity will present itself again.
Mwanyenya started playing rugby at the age of 13 at Sobukhazi High School in Mzilikazi before he moved to Milton High School. He toured Durban with the school team when an opportunity was presented to him.
Sovereign Mwanyenya plays as a prop and at times he plays as a hooker.
Manyenya is currently playing for Matabeleland Warriors.
For the past nine years Sovereign Mwanyenya has gained a lot of skill and experience in the world of rugby. After his tour of Durban Mwanyenya joined Highlanders senior men’s club were he gained more exposure into the sport.
He has played for a numerous clubs in Zimbabwe such as Western Suburbans, Highlanders and he has also featured for Gardens Rugby club in Cape Town in South Africa.
Zim GBC News got to interact with the player and he shared what he has achieved so far.
He has won the U-21 most Outstanding player at Highlanders Club, he was once part of the Matabeleland U-19 team, Milton High School player Of The Year and Best Forward in 2018, he was part of the Zim U-20 team in 2019 from Bulawayo among other achievements.
Mwanyenya spoke on his best moments in his career so far.
“My best moment during the high school days at Milton High School when we played against Christian Brothers College (CBC) at their home ground, for the first time in 30 years (CBC) lost to Milton High School by 56-5,” said Mwanyenya.
Rugby is also regarded as a dangerous sport, many players go through serious injuries during their careers, just like any other player Sovereign Mwanyenya has gone through that hard time.
“My worst moment was the time I had a teeth injury after an outstanding performance during the Zim U-19 selection trials at Falcon College in 2018” Explained Mwanyenya.
Mwanyenya also spoke on the state of rugby in Zimbabwe saying that rugby like any other sport in Zimbabwe has its own fair share of downsides but the major problem is conserving players, our country has produced some of the best players but most of them go for greener pastures elsewhere.
Our country needs to inject more money into the sport in order to keep our players on the local scene.
Mwanyenya concluded by a word of encouragement saying that the fear of being average has kept him going forward.
Dhlakama Part ways with Ngezi
Coach Rodwell Dhlakama has parted ways with Ngezi Platnum after spending weeks on ‘indefinite leave’.
The club announced the departure of Dhlakama on Monday without mentioning any reasons.
Reports emanating from Ngezi state that Dhlakama was embarrassed because of allegations that he was asking for kickbacks from players from their sign own fees as a result the club put him on ‘indefinite leave’ before he finally decided to leave the club.
There was no concrete evidence to these allegations.
Dhlakama’s former assistant coach Takesure Chiragwi is currently holding fort on interim basis. Chiragwi drew against CAPS United and against Yadah in the two matches that he has been in charge. His next assignment will be against Triangle away at Gibbo stadium.