ONE of the country's top financial institutions, Nedbank Zimbabwe Limited, believes the success of the Sables in lifting the Africa Cup in Uganda last week is a culmination of their investment into grassroots rugby initiatives in the country.
Nedbank are the main sponsors of the country's rugby teams, including the Sables who beat Algeria 29 - 3 last week to become African champions for the first time in over a decade.
The Sables managed to beat perennial champions Namibia for the first time in 23 years on their way to the final.
Algeria were also making their first final on the back of impressive wins over Ivory Coast and Kenya, while the Sables were chasing their second title having last won the competition in 2012.
"It is gratifying for Nedbank, as the main sponsor of the Sables Senior Rugby national team, to see them lifting the Africa Cup, a feat they last achieved in 2012, more so, doing so by overpowering the traditional powerhouse and second-best team in Africa, Namibia in the semi-final. This victory we believe is a culmination of our investment into the rugby grassroots through various developmental initiatives which include the Nedbank Rugby Challenge Cup, which draws players from all provinces around Zimbabwe as well supporting the Junior U20 Sables national team as they participate in the Barthes Cup.," Nedbank executive head of treasury, marketing and corporate affairs Latifa Kassim said.
"At least seven players from the winning team came through this grassroots development. Our thrust is to build a sustainable ecosystem in rugby that will see talent identification from across the country, give the youth an opportunity to play the sport professionally, make a living from it and lift the National Flag high as we have just seen them do in Uganda.
"Nedbank is proud of their achievement. We remember when we had their send off event on the eve of their departure, they boldly proclaimed that they would bring the Africa Cup Home, and they delivered on their promise. The Africa Cup came home and for that we say kudos to the boys in green! We look forward to the World Cup campaign as we continue to fully support them.
"We have been partnering ZRU and the Sables since 2022 and we are looking forward to exciting times ahead as we partner for the growth of the game in Zimbabwe."
Nedbank also spoke about what attracted them to the sport as well as the potential they see in rugby.
"The sport has potential for growth and to transform the players plying their trade locally and internationally. The sponsorship affords us an opportunity to contribute significantly into the building of a sustainable rugby ecosystem where various stakeholders thrive," Kassim said.
"There is a huge potential for the growth of the game of Rugby both at grassroot and national level. We envisage a time where Zimbabwe will improve their global ranking to be among the elite rugby playing nations at both junior and senior level and will not need to play preliminary games to qualify for the Word Cup."
The Sables' triumph saw them climb to a nine-year high ranking of 28th in the world.
It was also an instant impact for coach Piet Benade, who only took over the team this year and declared that the Sables would be the pride of the country.
The success also coincided with the rise of new Zimbabwe Rugby president Losson Mtongwiza, who only began his tenure in May.