Editors Opinion: By Gilbert Sinx Sinkamba RUGBY POLITICAL DISCOURSE (RANDOM) The biggest problem which the rugby has faced in this country has been Finances and possibly a mismanagement of finances.I will not talk on the latter because I have no proof whatsoever but on the first we will all agree.so many teams do not have sponsorship,who is responsible?I will try to share a few random thoughts and obviously it will not be perfect but I believe one or two items can be picked form my random thoughts. If we have to develop we have to start asking ourselves hard questions and be explicit,I am not privy to how much the ZRU is able to receive from IRB if at all they do or from the NSCZ or any fundraising ventures they are engaged in to raise money but what I do know for sure that clubs like ROAN,CHIBULUMA,KONKOLA and MUFULIRA are struggling to make ends meet and forfil fixtures. Why are they struggling ? >is it ZRUs fault or is it they lack leadership? >is it that they are no people who have heart for the games or is it? >that they are simply no companies in the respective towns who can sponsor them? what happened to Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in this country and who has the responsibility to fight for these clubs? >why are the Defense teams doing better, >why is LUSAKA able to meet their expenses and provide the best tournament in the country,do their leadership and membership have a winning formula and keeping it to themselves or do others not listen to them? >why is it that the same sponsors who refuse to sponsor ZRU will sponsor rugby clubs and soccer and are so the same companies who are the biggest sponsors of rugby in South Africa ? >why is Diggers doing well? The problems we all know,it is the solutions we want from the candidates before we entrust them.our rugby league is still amateur meaning that players do not make a living out of it.of course becoming professional is not an overnight task but as long as a player has to worry about buying electricity units,getting injured without proper insurance and also looking for money to carry on an international tour then we will not get to Brazil 2016. I am not encouraging the players to start over demanding as we still dont have capacity but that is the only way we will be able to keep a player in camp for two weeks without fear of losing a job. So the big question is how do we raise this money.If you want to raise money from potential sponsors and companies, they have to know the product and be given a reason why they should buy into that product.This requires ZRU to have a member in the committee who is good at Public Relations,someone who can talk to various executives in the big companies and win them over.You have to give the companies a reason to want to identify with the game of rugby.You cannot run away from advertising, you have to be on Kwacha Good morning Zambia,you have to be in the Post,you have to have journalists on your payroll so that you are in the papers every other day(Oops sorry that would be corruption). People like trends so that what will be on every ones lip on Saturdays is going to the rugby club.When more people in the country love the game and certain artists or influential figures are identified with the game then more people will want their products to be identified with the game. You need to have fundraising ventures as a ZRU. Organize the old guys to play charity matches and also visit the colleges which is a pool of potential players.We need to have a lot of ZAMBIAN REPLICA jerseys so that people ask what the fuss is all about and join.A good example is the INTER COMPANY RELAY,we need marketing ,marketing marketing.We need BUMPER STICKERS,CAPS,SCARFS,etc when we do so much marketing probably the companies will come in and the money will start flowing.when the money flows,then most start falling in place.Subsidizing the clubs who are not doing well,transport,allowances,jerseys,training gear.....possibly employment etc......This is just some distant analysis but if you put meat on the bones and implement in a serious way with good human resource and dedication it can yield results.....it looks like a club level management but the ZRU can use it to their benefit.....ZRU also needs people with influence to lobby government support by making the officials Guests of Honours for some tournaments ..I believe Lusaka has a good model for Rugby Administration and it saddens me that no one from the club has declared interest yet.......anyway we hope for the best for the game and the new leadership to take us to greater heights yet. Yours Sinx
Posted on: Wed, 15 Oct 2014 12:11:13 +0000
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