Rugby is struggling to garner the much-needed pinnacle of success compared to other Countries due to the Government’s failure to actualize its pledges.
Recently the spotlight dawned on the sport when its Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Godfrey Ndunda a veteran and seasoned administrator resigned.
However, Zambia Rugby Union (ZRU) President Louis Chileshe Bweupe remarked that among the major challenges affecting the sport, is financial constraints due to the government’s failure to actualize its pledge to offer grants to all sports disciplines.
Bweupe noted that initially, the Ministry of Youth, Sports, and Arts had indicated that each Association was to receive K550, 000 but later in March, the Ministry rephrased the announcement that the grant would be reduced citing the realignment of the budget due to the drought, but as things stand the Associations are yet to receive anything from the Ministry.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with the Zambian Business Times (ZBT), Bweupe expressed disappointment that the pledges have not been provided and believed that this has affected Rugby which has been drastically belittled by the lack of support.
“The government had promised that this year every sport will be able to receive a grant which we had all planned and budgeted for, but that has not happened both this year and last year, I think the Minister and the PS are still having challenges to offset allowances to various players in various sports disciplines.”
He highlighted that the League is being sustained by Defence Force and Security wings sponsored sides, unlike the sides supported by the mines which are also struggling to fulfill their potential.
“We are thankful to have army sides, Zambia Airforce, Zambia Army, Zambia Police, and Zambia National Service for supporting teams the way they do, so these teams obviously because of the support they are doing fine, but when you come to a town like Roan, where the teams are traditionally sponsored by the mines, there is a huge problem there, you go to Ndola as well, Chibuluma, this is actually sad and i speak as President of the ZRU.”
Bweupe echoed that despite the sport being accoladed with the status of being the second most followed sport and number of players, there are major constraints that are scheduled to be tabled in an upcoming Indaba.
