By SANDRA MWILA and SHAMAOMA MUSONDA –

The National Olympic Committee (NOC) has commended the Zambia Rugby Union (ZRU) for successfully launching the International Rugby Board (IRB) Get Into Rugby project at the Olympic Youth Development Centre in Lusaka at the weekend.
NOC general secretary Hazel Kennedy said the ZRU executive did well to have chosen the OYDC for the launch of the global initiative by the IRB.
Kennedy said she was mesmerised by the overwhelming response from across the city and beyond.
She said in a statement released yesterday by the ZRU that she could not believe how participants were effectively organised and took part in the exercise with passion and determination.
Kennedy encouraged the ZRU executive to continue with the spirit of involving children from schools and the communities in their activities as they were the future of sport in any given community.
She was also impressed with the level of participation at the Get Into Rugby launch by union officials, referees, teachers, coordinators and coaches.
The Zambian leg of the Get Into Rugby project was officially launched by Confederation of African Rugby (CAR) East and southern African regional development officer Erick Situma who said Zambia handled the launch of the programme with enthusiasm, outstripping his expectation.
ZRU president Martin Musunka said the union had started preparing school children and those from the communities in Lusaka for the launch.
Musunka said the entire session was a resounding success because of the commitment by all those tasked with various responsibilities.
Meanwhile, a scan carried out on Red Arrows rugby player Daniel Sakala, who broke his leg during the Season-Opening Nchanga 10s tournament at the weekend, has revealed that only the fibula was broken.
Arrows assistant coach Lewis Mwansa said that the scan conducted at the Mina Soko Military Hospital in Lusaka showed a relief from what was earlier feared and that the player was scheduled to undergo an operation this week.
“Daniel (Sakala) underwent a scan that showed that unlike earlier feared, he only broke his small bone. That is a big relief and he should undergo an operation at Italian Hospital this week,” he said.
He said Sakala should be ready for action just before the end of the season but that it was better the player stays away from the game this year.
Sakala sustained the injury during the Nchanga 10s tournament where Arrows were eliminated at semi-final level. Distraught players and fans watched in awe as first aid was administered on Sakala with the game stopped for more than 30 minutes as medics rushed attended to the injured player.
He was immediately rushed to the hospital before Arrows sponsors, the Zambia Air Force (ZAF), sent him a chopper which airlifted him to Lusaka for specialised treatment.