The Zimbabwe men’s senior rugby team, The Sables, slept on the streets of Tunisia last night ahead of a crucial Rugby World Cup qualifier match due to bundling on their travel arrangements.
The Sables rugby team was initially detained at a Tunisian airport, on their way back from Kenya. The team’s passports were seized by the Tunisian immigration who demanded they pay a 20 euro visa fee per player – a total USD$600.
One of the Zimbabwe players, flank Takudzwa Mandiwanza, told a Zimbabwean radio station that the tour has been a “shambles”.
“We have not been paid our daily allowances for our duration in Kenya, including our match fees that we did not receive. Now we’re in Tunisia, we were detained at the airport for close to six hours, with no allowances given to us.”
He added that De Villiers had bought the players sandwiches and drinks out of his own pocket.
“We’d be hungry right now. The situation is very frustrating and disheartening.”
Former Minister of Education Mr David Coltart broke the news on his Facebook page on Tuesday morning.
Our national rugby team the Sables are being treated in the most appalling way in Tunisia. They have been forced to sleep on the streets as the accommodation they were provided with is disgusting.
On arrival they spent 6 hours held up at border and the authorities have taken their passports claiming they need to pay for visas amounting to 600 euro which they cant pay as they don’t have funds. Most team members only had 2 hours sleep last night. The ZRU board appear to have done nothing about the situation along with the SRC. Coach De Villiers and the managers are on the street with the players.
Come on Zimbabwe. How can we allow a national team, our flag carriers, to be treated like this?
What is the Minister of Sport doing about this? Can our nearest ambassador help? Trudy Stevenson – can you?
It is time to restore our national pride.
Details follow…
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