By SHAMAOMA MUSONDA –

ZAMBIA Rugby Union (ZRU) committee member, John Chibuye has declared his intention to re-contest his position during the February 1 elective annual general meeting in Chililabombwe.

Chibuye said he had enough experience in rugby both at club and national level and would continue contributing meaningfully to the development of the sport.

He is former Chibuluma Rugby Club chairperson.

“I am re-contesting my position of committee member for ZRU at the forthcoming elections to be held in Chililabombwe on February 1. I have served as chairperson for Chibuluma Rugby club for seven years. I also served as secretary for the disciplinary committee of the then ZRFU (Zambia Rugby Football Union) during Brigadier-General Clement Sinkamba’s term,” he said.

Chibuye said his vision for rugby in Zambia was to help develop rugby at grassroots level by engaging structures at the bottom like schools and regretted that schools rugby was only concentrated in Lusaka, Kitwe and Ndola.

“We need to bring in other towns on board as well by utilising retired and active rugby players to organise schools rugby. I am also looking at helping clubs that are struggling to secure sponsorship from the cooperate world,” he said.

He called for the increased visit of the national executive members to clubs for them to appreciate the problems the affiliates were facing.

Chibuye was co-opted into the current executive last year, after which relinquished his position as Chibuluma Rugby club chairperson.