THE National Rugby League (NRL) is on the verge of cancelling the 2014 season if they don’t get a sponsor this week.
THANDIWE MOYO SPORTS CORRESPONDENT
NRL, who were previously sponsored by Delta Beverages, failed to find backing for the 2014 season and are now struggling to pay for the teams’ transport. The NRL pays for travelling expenses for the nine teams in the league.
Chairman Nody Kanyangarara said the next couple of days will be critical for the league.
“We called off the games at the weekend because teams could not fund their trips. The next 10 days will be critical the for league. The league has no money and we could not fund them to travel. If we fail to get funding we would have to go back to the constituency and find a way forward,” he said.
Kanyangarara said the worst case could be cancelling the rest of the season’s games while they try and secure sponsorship for 2015.
The NRL was sponsored by Delta Beverages under their Lion Lager brand, but they decided not to renew their partnership which ended last season.
“We are hoping that we would not have to get to the worst case where we pull off the league for this season.
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There a couple of potential sponsors that is why the next couple of days would be critical,” he said.
This could be a major setback for the league which look a long break from June and resumed last month.
With very little on the rugby scene, the NRL and the Spar Sevens tournament provide action for rugby fanatics.
The league has three teams from Harare: Old Hararians, Harare Sports Club and Old Georgians; three from Bulawayo: Matabeleland Busters, Western Panthers and Old Miltonians and one each from Mutare Sports Club, Gweru (Gweru Sports Club) and Zvishavane Bulls.
Former champions Old Hararians lead the log standings with 38 points. Defending champions Harare Sports Club breathe heavily on them with 37 while Old Georgians are third with 35 points.
In fourth place are Busters who are on 31, Panthers on 19, Old Miltonians 17, Mutare Sports Club 14 with Gweru second from bottom on six while Zvishavane Bulls are still to get off the mark.
The league has reached the second round and last weekend Busters were set to take on Old Hararians, Panthers playing Harare Sports Club, Old Georgians against Gweru Sports Club while Mutare were meant to play Bulls.
