IT’S about time the Zimbabwean corporate community steps up and sacrificially support the Sables.
The elation for their Rugby World Cup qualification, ending a 34-year wait, has swept the nation, and rightly so.
This is a moment of immense national pride and a testament to the Sables' grit and the Zimbabwe Rugby Union’s (ZRU) vision.
Yet, as the celebrations continue, there’s an uncomfortable truth that many companies, now eager to bask in the team’s glory were conspicuously absent during the journey to qualification.
They have been quick to leverage on the Sables’ success on social media to gain traction and promote their brands, effectively reaping where they did not sow.
We have seen them. We know them.
While this new-found enthusiasm is welcome, it underscores the critical need for a deeper, more sustained commitment.
The Sables are no longer just an African success story, but are now on the cusp of facing top-tier rugby sides on the global stage.
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This demands a monumental shift in support.
The corporate community must understand that this isn't merely a philanthropic gesture; it's an investment in national pride, in the development of sport and, indeed, in their own brand equity.
This is the moment for all companies to join forces to ensure the Sables are not just present at the World Cup, but truly prepared, remunerated and sponsored to compete at the highest level.
What it means is providing the financial muscle for optimal training, top-tier coaching, international exposure and adequate player welfare.
Crucially, it must time to reward players, especially locally-based talent, who have dedicated their lives to rugby, often with minimal financial gain.
Their passion for the game and their country has driven them and now it's time for that dedication to be appropriately rewarded.
This World Cup qualification should be a catalyst for rugby transformation into a viable profession in Zimbabwe, fostering strong domestic competition and robust development pathways.
In fact, the effort to ensure the Sables also qualify for the 2031 World Cup should begin today.
Building a sustainable rugby ecosystem requires long-term commitment.
We need to acknowledge those who have consistently stood by the rugby side.
Nedbank Zimbabwe deserves credit for its tireless and long-standing sponsorship of the Sables and other rugby initiatives.
So does Alliance Health Zimbabwe and other corporates which saw potential and jumped on board ahead of the Africa Cup such as RK Fuels, Coral Soft Tissues, Sables Lager, Inter Chem, Econet Wireless, Tenga4Wena and Shumba Gold, among others.
ZRU's relentless pursuit of this World Cup dream has set a commendable example for other sporting associations.
As Godfrey Muzanargwo, the player of the match in the final, rightly said: “The work starts now.”
For the Zimbabwean corporate community, it's time to translate enthusiasm to tangible, sustained support, ensuring the Sables' journey to Australia 2027 is a beacon of national achievement and a turning point for Zimbabwean rugby.
