Divvy's Zimbabwe sleep on the streets of Tunisia
NEWS: Zimbabwe rugby players along with former Springbok head coach Peter De Villiers were forced to sleep on the streets of Tunisia in preparation for their World Cup qualifier.
Images surfaced on social media of the Zimbabwe national team sleeping on the sidewalk as their prepare for their match against Tunisia this Saturday.
@kyrossports @DavidColtart It’s alleged Sables rugby team slept on the streets of Tunisia last night. pic.twitter.com/mayUXveKzh
— rickinzim (@rickinzim) July 3, 2018
According to reports, Zimbabwe ‘The Sable’ were forced to sleep on the sidewalks as a result of appalling accommodation and a lack of funds.
While it has also been reported that national team were held up for six hours at passport control after Tunisian authorities confiscated passports and demanded that they pay 600 Euros for visas.
Former Zimbabwean Minister for Sports David Coltart express his resentment in a Facebook post: “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,”
“Most team members only had two hours sleep last night. The ZRU board appear to have done nothing about the situation along with the SRC. Coach Peter De Villiers and the managers are on the street with the players.”
Rugby Africa and Tunisia Rugby Union have publicly ‘apologised’ to Zimbabwe rugby players via a press release.
The statement read: “Rugby Africa has been made aware of the difficulties encountered by the Zimbabwean Rugby team – the Sables – with regards to their accommodation in Tunisia.
“We would like to reassure the Zimbabwean Ministry of Sports, Zimbabwe Rugby Union, and all partners and fans that the situation was addressed immediately, and an acceptable solution has been found this morning. Tunisia Rugby Union took the Sables management to visit another hotel which was accepted.
“Rugby Africa and Tunisia Rugby Union would like to express their sincere apologies to the Sables team and management for this unfortunate situation. This does not reflect the standards of the Rugby Africa Gold Cup competition and we sincerely regret any prejudice caused.”
