Follow your passion – women’s Zimbabwe rugby administrator Mnikwa

Zimbabwe’s Mnikwa growing women’s rugby

JOHANNESBURG, April 13 (ANA) – Zimbabwe’s Abigail Mnikwa, recently named as one of Rugby Africa’s 12 recipients for this year’s World Rugby Women’s Executive Leadership Scholarships, has urged more young women to become involved in the sport.

“Follow your passion, be true to your principles and don’t be afraid to break out of your comfort zone,” said Mnikwa.

Mnikwa’s love for the game has seen her serve as Zimbabwe’s chairman of women rugby committee since 2016.

“I love being part of something that is so much bigger than I am.

“Rugby is more than a sport, it’s a culture, and its core values assists in the development of better individuals on and off the field.”

Mnikwa’s involvement in rugby goes back 15 years, she explains.

“I first got involved in rugby as a physiotherapist for the Under-19 national team in 2006 and I progressed to working with the senior team. In 2010 – after completing the Advanced Sports Management Course – I got involved in rugby at an administrative level, at provincial level initially.”

Pushing the agenda of growing the women’s game has always been a top priority for Mnikwa.

“My main vision is to play a role in assisting in development of women leaders in rugby.  My hope is to do this through establishing workshops and seminars that are specific to rugby.”

In her time in rugby, Mnikwa has spent time as a physiotherapist and sports administrator, with her decorated career seeing her serve on the Zimbabwe Rugby Union board, as Zimbabwe’s women’s rugby chairperson, chair of the union’s Covid-19 Relief Committee and a World Rugby medical trainer.

Mnikwa is also Rugby Africa’s Women in Leadership winner for the month of April. – African News Agency (ANA), Editing by Michael Sherman