Prophet Magaya pledges party to celebrate African Champions, The Sables

HARARE – Prophet Walter Magaya has pledged to host the Zimbabwe senior men’s rugby team, the Sables, at his Yadah hotel in Waterfalls, following the team’s resounding 29-3 victory over Algeria to scoop the Rugby Africa Cup trophy.

The tournament was held last Sunday in Kampala, Uganda.

The victory saw the Sables ending their 12-year trophyless drought, having last won the same prestigious title back in 2012.

Magaya’s pledge comes after he felt was the Sables “not get a befitting reception” despite achieving a huge feet of becoming African champions.

“I am inviting the (Sables) team to a victory party. I can host them at the Yadah Hotel or at any place of their choice,” pledged the preacher.

“They deserve to be honoured, winning such trophy is not easy. It’s something that we have to celebrate. I feel like the team did not get a befitting reception as the champions of Africa. It is huge.”

The football mad prophet added: “I can imagine what could have happened if it were the Warriors who had brought home the Africa Cup of Nations.

“We could have witnessed some wild celebrations, and chaos at the Robert Gabriel Mugabe International. The celebrations would have gone for weeks, if not months. As a nation, we need to do more to honour these rugby guys and all our sporting heroes.”

The Newsday newspaper reports “no government officials or the drum-beating ensemble were at the airport to receive the Sables on their arrival”.

Furthermore, the publication indicated that “the team was welcomed by family members, friends and officials from the Zimbabwe Rugby Union (ZRU)”.

A disappointed ZRU official could not hide his frustration: “It is disappointing that not even a deputy minister from the Sports ministry or any other ministry came to the airport to welcome us back home.

“I just wish they [government] could do more in terms of showing support and appreciating the players,” a ZRU official complained.”