PHILLIMON MHLANGA
Zimbabwe’s national women rugby team, the Lady Cheetahs, yesterday announced that food joint RocoMamas will be its kit supplier for the Africa Sevens World Cup pre-qualifiers to be held in Maseru, Lesotho at the end of this month, BT Sport can report.
The tournament kicks off on January 29 and runs until January 30, 2022.
The value of the contract between the Lady Cheetahs and RocoMamas was not specified.
Six teams – Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Botswana, Eswatini, Namibia and Mauritius will participate in the Maseru tournament.
Only one team will qualify to meet other teams that have already qualified for the Rugby Africa World Cup qualifiers in Tunisia in April.
This Tunisia tournament becomes the proper World Cup qualifier.
“We welcome RocoMamas. It is a huge boost for us. Women’s sport is usually sidelined. But now see, we are going into this tournament looking good,” Lady Cheetahs captain, Margaret Magwaro told BT Sport on the sidelines of the handover ceremony.
Also speaking at the unveiling of the kit deal at RocoMama Borrowdale outlet, in Harare, the company’s operations manager, Lawrence Muziya said: “For RocoMamas we don’t do the normal. They (Lady Cheetahs) are the underdog. Nobody looks at the sponsorship of women’s sports. And this is why we are going there, and we say women are the future. They have a lot of potential that need to be fully supported. So, this is why we have gone for the Lady Cheetahs.”
Asked how big the sponsorship was, he said: “We have not tied down value to it. For now, we have the sponsorship of this beautiful jersey to the Lady Cheetahs.”
“This if you ask me what to expect, it’s actually an understatement. We are actually going there and winning it. We don’t have a choice.”
The Lady Cheetahs coach, Derick Chiwara told BT Sport he was confident of winning the tournament.
“The chances of qualifying are very high. It will be a huge disappointment to the nation and the rugby fraternity if we fail to qualify,” Chiwara said.
He added: “We have no idea of what these teams are doing, but still believe in what is in store for us. The chances of qualifying are very high. The ladies just need to stick to their guns, stick to their basics.
“As it stands, no complaints. We have got our business in a silent way. We don’t have injury worries. We are getting support from behind the scenes from Minerva, from RocoMamas, Extreme fitness gym who have given our girls pre-sponsorship to keep fit. Also, thanks to the police as well. They have given us their police ground for training. So, we have been getting massive support. So, we don’t have complaints. What’s left is for us to keep working hard.
“This time around we have picked a team with a combination of talent, and experience and there is quite a lot of spark in the team. So, it is difficult for me to pick out a single player.
But, I guarantee you that we have chosen the best 12 who are going to combine as a team.
“This time around we only have one Precious Chirinda. It’s going to be an interesting tournament for her. The others have one or more caps. So, we are going there with a very young squad. So, it will be quite interesting to see how they carry themselves.”
