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Dropouts mar Zambia 7s party

Zambia’s 2009 Heroes Sevens was mired in controversy over the weekend, as all of the Copperbelt Province clubs failed to pitch up for the one-day competition held at the Green Eagles Club in Kabwe.

Although seven clubs had on Friday confirmed their participation, organisers were stunned by the non-arrival of the clubs, limiting the number of clubs that took part with some coming up with two sides. The clubs that shunned the Heroes tournament were the Diggers, defending champions Mufulira, Ndola Wanderers, Roan, Presidents Cup champions Chibuluma, Nchanga and Kansanshi.

Zambia Rugby Football Union (ZRFU) general secretary Martin Musunka said the union would fine all the clubs that failed to travel. Although some of the clubs declined to comment, Diggers secretary Chileshe Bweupe said his team was geared for the tournament but the bus, donated by Mopani Copper Mines (MCM), developed a fault that made it impossible to travel. Bweupe said the problem was beyond the club's control, and the players were looking forward to winning their first silverware in Kabwe and apologised to the fans for not showing up.

He said the club would forever remain committed to fulfilling its fixtures on the ZRFU calendar both in the league and cup competitions and regretted that Diggers could not travel to Kabwe. According to organising committee member Innocent Sakala, failure by the Copperbelt teams to travel saw Arrows and Eagles constituting A and B sides while Powerhouse, Lusaka Buffaloes had only one side each. Sakala, the former 15’s national coach, said none of the Copperbelt based-clubs sent in any reasons for them not showing up.

When play finally started it was the Red Arrows B side who were victorious overshadowing their supposedly superior Arrows A contemporaries. Perhaps the biggest disappointment were the Lusaka team, acting as a shadow side for national side and led by Zambia Sevens coach Owen Busange, who failed even to reach the last four.

Arrows B had beaten the Buffaloes 14-0 in the semis as Eagles defeated Arrows A 36-0 in the other last four tie. In the final it was the Arrows B secured the title thanks to three tries placed by Nigel Chibwe. Patrick Kasongo, Ceaser Mutesha and Edwin Zulu also scored each to inspire Arrows B to a 36-0 in a one-sided win.

This weekend sees all teams trekking to Luanshya for the Luanshya Copper Mines (LCM) Sevens rugby tournament a regular on the ZRFU calendar, hosted by Roan.

Hornets 100% record

West Indies Sevens continues their development with ‘The Banks Sevens Championships’, in conjunction with Guyana RFU, finally taking place over the weekend. The tournament had in fact been postponed twice due to inclement weather conditions making the facilities at National Park unplayable. The event, which officially marks start of the Island’s rugby season, was comfortably won by the Pepsi Hornets A side who went unbeaten through the day in retaining the title they won last year.

West Indies Sevens star Albert Larose led the Hornets side and was ably supported by the impressive Peabo Hamilton, Elwin Chase and Satesh Samaroo. West Indies Captain Claudius Butts, who like Larose had played in the Hong Kong 7s, was also in attendance with Theodore Henry and Walter George also at National Park.

Using a Round Robin format the Hornets A took a full compliment of 8 points with notable wins over their B side (31-0) and Caribs (29-19) before showing character to edge past GDF A 14-7 in their final game of the day.