TRT News

Inaugural Kitwe Schools Girls Tag Rugby Festival – 23rd July 2011 (Kitwe Basic School)

on Aug 09 in Events, News, Zambia tagged by RuckinRugby

Tag Rugby Trust Zambia Report (By Chris Mwamba)
Date: 25th July, 2011.

The first ever Girls only tag rugby festival for Kitwe Schools held at Kitwe Basic School on 23rd July 2011. Over 80 under 14 age grade girls from 7 government schools and one community school attended. The Schools that participated were:

1. Miseshi,
2. Ndeke,
3. Kalela,
4. Wesley Nyirenda,
5. Matete,
6. Kamitondo,
7. Kitwe Basic &
8. SOS Children’s Village.

The rest of the schools did not attend due to logistical reasons and had sent apologies to the schools organizing committee.

Experience gained by Mary Thindwa whilst in Uganda in terms of tournament administration motivated the local teachers and local volunteers to give more commitment to be involved in coaching the children

Teams were awarded with certificates of participation and numerous prizes in the following order

1. Overall winners : Kamitondo Basic school
2. Runners up : Ndeke Basic school
3. Most disciplined team : Wesley Nyirenda
4. Most entertaining team: SOS Children’s Village
5. Girl player of the festival: Chanda Mubanga – Kitwe Basic
6. Coach of the day Letty – Kamitondo Basic School

Thanks to Lisa Holmyard (ex TRT volunteer 2006) from Gloucester Girls Rugby Charitable Trust for kind donation of Rugby Polo Tops & shorts which were presented to player of the festival and Coach of the day.

Present at the festival was Bill Kapinga Director from Beautiful Gate Community School based in Ndeke & educate approximately 400 children from Grades 1-9. Beautiful Gate School is located near a shanty compound, Robert Compound. Robert Compound is an area of extreme need, a community that is populated by some of the poorest people in Zambia. Beautiful Gate is strategically placed right beside this compound to provide education, nutrition and health care to this area.

Tag rugby will be introduced in the schools that have partnered with Beyond Ourselves (UK based Charity) as a way building futures with the children by using rugby as a unifying factor.

Earlier Jo Mackey a representative of the charity attended the Inaugural Luanshya Schools tag rugby festival held at Mpelembe Basic School and had an overview on how tag rugby is played and organised.

Finally, thanks to, Elasto Nkalamo & his Schools committee for excellent organization. Not forgetting Sandra former Secretary of Zambia Women’s Rugby Union & Roan Rugby Club who has come on board as a volunteer in spearheading girl-child rugby program and Kitwe Basic School management for allowing the schools to use the sports ground.

For your diary
27th August 2011 – Introduction to Tag Rugby Officiating for Sports Teachers & Young Leaders- Diggers RFC Kitwe.
3rd September 2011 – Tag Rugby Trainer Course for Sports Teachers & Volunteers @ Roan Rugby Club Luanshya

I salute you all

Mwamba Mofu Christopher
Volunteer ZRFU Copperbelt Schools & Tag Rugby Trust Country Coordinator