Last week, I looked at the architects behind Zimbabwe Rugby’s remarkable rise from the wilderness to Rugby World Cup qualification.

Today, the landscape has shifted.

Zimbabwe Rugby has announced a new high-performance and rugby committee structure, featuring a mix of familiar faces and new appointments that will help shape the next chapter of the Sables’ journey.

While some of the thinking behind these changes is still being investigated, and several questions remain unanswered, this is what we know so far: 👇🇿🇼🏉 Firstly, the losses.

Zimbabwe Rugby will unfortunately bid farewell to one of the most experienced figures in the Sables setup.

Amid the uncertainty and behind-the-scenes developments currently unfolding at the ZRU, I am informed that Gert Smal has resigned from his position as Linouts Coach and Consultant.

For Zimbabwean rugby supporters, players and coaches alike, this will be a difficult pill to swallow.

A Rugby World Cup-winning coach with South Africa and one of the most respected minds in the game, Smal brought credibility, experience and world-class standards to the Sables environment. While he rarely sought the spotlight, many within Zimbabwe Rugby viewed him as the steady hand guiding the project from behind the scenes.

In conversations this week, one phrase kept coming up:

“He was the glue that held the team together.”

Replacing a coach of Smal’s calibre was never going to be easy. Replacing his experience, influence and rugby intellect may prove even harder.

The question now is simple:

Who steps forward to fill some very big boots? 👇🏉🇿🇼

I recently passed through Victoria Falls international Airport. An Ethiopian Airways flight had landed from Addis Ababa with more than 150 foreign tourists, many on their first trip to Zimbabwe and most with wallets full of USD to spend in Zim.

What I saw shocked me. Thread: Zimbabwe requires an immigration form to be filled out by all passengers. This was not handed out on the flight and so upon entering the airport, everyone was handed a form and chaos commenced as people shuffled up the stairs, lean against the wall, kneel on the floor as there was nowhere for anyone to fill out a form. People had to borrow pens and immediately the process of getting people through immigration has stalled.

I can now exclusively confirm that Zimbabwe Test Captain Sean Williams is set to imminently quit Zim Cricket.

I understand that the current tour of Ireland and Scotland is to be his last for the Chevrons.

A crippling national loss in what i fear will be the first of many. Further to this, the reason for quitting is wide spread. I’m told that direct issues lie with the coach and management which has led led to growing unrest among players- with Williams cracking first.

Take a look at the luxury Boeing 787 Dreamliner charter by President ED on his tour to eastern Europe.

The jet owned by a company called Deer Jet costs US$13,000 an hour to charter.

A thread: The price does not include urgent plan application fee, ground transshipment charges, deicing charges, special meal requirements, and excess insurance in some countries. These costs can raise the charter price to more than $60,000 per hour.