Security beefed up at rugby festival

Sport
ORGANISERS of the Dairibord Schools Rugby Festival have beefed up security at the venue for the annual event after last year’s festival made the headlines because of events away from the pitch.

ORGANISERS of the Dairibord Schools Rugby Festival have beefed up security at the venue for the annual event after last year’s festival made the headlines because of events away from the pitch.

DANIEL NHAKANISO SPORTS REPORTER There was an outcry on last year’s edition of the festival after reports of young people engaging in sexual activities, alcohol and drug abuse circulated, while some of the fans were criticised for dressing improperly.

Festival director Sebastian Garikai said as a result of what happened last year, they increased the number of security personnel from 40 to 100 in addition to 30 police details.

“After hearing the different views from the media, the parents and the rugby family in general, we then sat down and came up with a plan to ensure that our rugby festival is clean,” he said.

“We came up with a number of measures which include campaigns and promotions to try and curb some of the things that were said to have happened and I believe this has helped us in coming with a better festival this year.

“To start with we looked at the issue of security. We felt we needed to beef up security for the children that come to the festival and security of belongings. This year we deployed an extra 60 guards from the 40 that we had last year which brings them to a 100. These guards had to go through an induction course in managing and providing security at a sporting event which is why you see that our guards that are within the playing enclosure are not watching the game, but are actually watching the crowds. On top of these security guards we also have 30 police details from the ZRP coming in everyday.”

Garikai said they also banned evening matches, where most of the bad practices were taking place.

Yesterday’s results at a glance: Morgan 39 Kuwadzana 1 High 0, Lord Malvern 17 Western Suburbs 10, Oriel Boys High 22 Mt Pleasant 18, Cranborne 14 Herentals 6, Dzivarasekwa High 2 31 Chipindura 0, Mufakose High 0 Mabvuku 7, Mzilikazi 14 St Columbas’ 8, Zengeza 1 7 Seke Select 10, Mufakose High 4 10 Nyatsime 0, Mavhudzi 6 B&P Centre 5, Entumbane 0 Royal College 31, George Stark 20 Chindunduma 5, Kwekwe 10 Nhowe 0, Chaplin 0 Presbyterian 8

Under-16: Sable Field: Presbyterian 5 Harare High 12, Sobukazi 5 Kuwadzana High 1 0, Tynwald 17 Cranborne 0 Girls School Teams Results: Harare Girls High 0 Vainona 3 Roosevelt 35 George Stark 5, Mbare High 15 Hatfield 5, Dzivarasekwa High 1 10 Kuwadzana High 0, Mt Pleasant 5 Lord Malvern 35, Mabvuku 35 SOS 0, Morgan 05 Mufakose High 2 25, Sobukazi 0 Chipadze 22