National Foods Sponsors Zimbabwe's Young Sables with US$25,000 Ahead of Barthes Trophy Match

National Foods Limited, Zimbabwe's leading food manufacturer, has provided a sponsorship of over US$25,000 to the Zimbabwe Junior Sables Rugby team through its Nutri-Active brand. The sponsorship, which spans two years from 2023 to 2024, demonstrates National Foods' commitment to supporting young talent and promoting the sport of rugby in Zimbabwe.

The sponsorship includes a full kit deal, covering all aspects of the team's attire, including match jerseys, alternate jerseys, training kit, track suits, golf shirts, and hoodies. This support not only enhances the team's appearance but also instills a sense of unity and pride among the players.

The Young Sables, Zimbabwe's national under-20 rugby team, are the defending champions of the Barthes Trophy and are hoping to win the tournament for the third consecutive time. In their opening match, the Young Sables defeated Tunisia 46-21 and are now looking to maintain their winning streak against the former champions, Namibia.

The team has made several changes to the squad for the match against Namibia, including bringing in Glordan Sarpo as the new hooker and moving co-captain Benoni Nhekairo from fullback to flyhalf. However, the team's star player, Gody Grant, will miss the match due to an injury sustained in the previous game.

The Young Sables are confident in their running rugby style, which has been effective in past Barthes Trophy tournaments, and are hoping to secure a win against the traditionally stronger Namibian team. The team's head coach, Shaun De Souza, anticipates a challenging match against Namibia, who have improved significantly with the support of World Rugby.

Why this matters: The Barthes Trophy is an important annual rugby union competition for under-20 national teams in Africa. The winner of the four-nation tournament will qualify for the World Junior Trophy, which is scheduled to be held in Scotland later this year.

National Foods' sponsorship comes at a critical time for the Young Sables as they prepare to face Namibia in the Barthes Trophy match in Harare. "We are excited to be partnering with the Zimbabwe Rugby Union in supporting the Junior Sables," said Lawrence Kutinyu, the Head of Marketing at National Foods. "As a company, we believe in nurturing young talent, and this sponsorship is a testament to our commitment to the development of rugby in Zimbabwe."

Key Takeaways

• National Foods sponsors Zimbabwe Junior Sables rugby team with $25,000 for 2 years.
• Sponsorship includes full kit deal for team's attire, boosting unity and pride.
• Young Sables are defending champions of Barthes Trophy, aiming for 3rd consecutive win.
• Team faces Namibia in next match, with star player Gody Grant out due to injury.
• Barthes Trophy winner qualifies for World Junior Trophy in Scotland later this year.