Only two African groups might be competing when the Rugby World Cup begins in France subsequent month. Africa is not recognized for a love of the game, however the head of Rugby Africa, Herbert Mensah, has excessive hopes that may change.
Mensah, a businessman from Ghana, has headed rugby’s governing physique on the African continent since March 2023.
He advised RFI sports activities correspondent Babacar Diarra about his formidable plans.
The dialog has been edited for size and readability.
RFI: First of all, we might prefer to know your private story with rugby. Are you a former participant?
Herbert Mensah: Yes, rugby is life. I’ve at all times appreciated all sports activities however I performed primarily rugby at college, at college.
I performed in England, in South Africa and in Zimbabwe. I performed one worldwide, my solely, in opposition to Italy. Then I got here again and performed one season for Saracens in London.
So sure, rugby has been in my blood from the age of six.
RFI: One of the keys to creating sport is cash. How do you anticipate to boost funds and to encourage individuals to put money into African rugby?
HM: My mantra for many years, and particularly within the few months in my presidency, has been that sport is huge enterprise. Sport usually attracts individuals who can play however do not perceive the administration of the sport.
If you perceive that sport is huge enterprise, then you definately perceive that there must be a dynamic change. Especially in gamers’ vitamin and life-style.
Also sport is now world, not solely European. Africa has nice content material and is the biggest continent on earth. The biggest sportspeople have some heritage from Africa, even right here in France. We must get the funding and infrastructure again into our continent.
RFI: Lots of different sports activities are extra standard in Africa than rugby. How would you persuade a bit child from Ghana to select up a rugby ball?
HM: The help requires funding, which begins with good buddies. I’ve been fortunate sufficient to have conferences with the African Union, with authorities our bodies, to make rugby a part of the curriculum.
We have been pushing within the 4 or 5 months that I’ve been with Rugby Africa to get nations to begin creating rugby pitches. Because you do not even see rugby pitches in most nations. And a whole lot of the footballers say they do not need “the big guys” on their soccer pitches.
The authorities of Kenya has now allotted land to play rugby, Zimbabwe has too. Even in Ghana, we have now received the primary purpose-built rugby pitch for the African Games subsequent yr. Rugby is now included within the African Games.
Some nations at the moment are investing enormous quantities of cash in grass-roots sports activities. They recognise that not all people can play basketball or soccer. First you set the funding in, then individuals begin to say, “ah, we can play rugby”.
It’s a course of. It means altering mindsets in governments, in Rugby Africa and even with the worldwide our bodies.
RFI: In the Rugby World Cup in France, two nations – South Africa and Namibia -will characterize the continent on this yr’s event. Do you foresee different nations catching up quickly?
HM: Without funding, you are not going to get African nations doing higher.
Some individuals solely play a check match yearly or each two years. Athletes are usually not given the chance to play often.
We are asking our companions to revisit the problem of the place rugby goes at the moment, and the best way to put money into Africa to make sure that we transfer step-by-step, in order that the key nations can at the least play six to eight matches a yr.
RFI: What are the possibilities in your opinion of seeing South Africa, the world champions, doing it once more in France?
HM: You know, on the planet of sports activities solely the followers anticipate to win each time. The realists know you can’t.
I feel this World Cup might be extraordinary and I’ve to congratulate France. They’ve developed a rare construction and there was a programme of excellence. They’re absolutely the favourites to win the World Cup this yr.
South Africa are the champions, however with the harm of Handre Pollard and three or 4 others gamers not in, they’re coming into the event with a barely weaker squad.
As an African, I’m waving the flag of the champions, South Africa, however with full respect for the hosts.
RFI: Siya Kolisi is absolutely match to play with South Africa once more. Do you imagine that, as a black captain, he is opening the trail for youths on the continent?
HM: I feel so. You see it throughout the continent. You see it in South Africa. Not solely as a result of he’s captain, however due to his humility.
He represents the character that the world wants at the moment, the driving pressure of excellence, and a winner. He represents rugby for all – for white, black, tall, quick, the whole lot imaginable.
Siya Kolisi, normal bearer for the ‘Rainbow Nation’
The South African Sevens squad now has extra black gamers concerned. It’s taking place in Zimbabwe and Namibia as nicely.
It’s not a color factor, let me be clear, however you’ve gotten extra individuals seeking to play.
RFI: Africa will get two spots within the Rugby World Cup. America has none. Japan is the one group representing Asia. Can Africans get a 3rd group in a number of years?
HM: It is troublesome – rugby is a bodily recreation. It is greater than sport, it’s a battle of excellence. The ability ranges are excessive.
But we are able to do what occurred with soccer: I used to be concerned in a small means in encouraging Fifa to extend the variety of [African] groups allowed. They argued in regards to the funding, however I mentioned put us there first. If you improve the variety of groups to a few, 4, 5, governments will put cash in, as a result of it’s prestigious and other people need it.
After Euro and World Cup, enlargement in sight for Africa Cup?
We have 37 nations taking part in in Rugby Africa. Can you think about if we had groups? Kenya could possibly be there and will maintain their very own. Algeria could possibly be there.
Football first mentioned no, then sure, and what occurred not too long ago? Morocco gained [against Portugal]; Cameroon beat Brazil. Senegal did extremely nicely, and Ghana too.
So give us extra competitions. Get African nations to play in greater competitions. Then we might have two, three, 4 African nations having the ability to compete worldwide – possibly not champions instantly, however in a position to participate. Give Africans their possibilities.
RFI: Last yr, there was an issue after the Rugby Africa Cup came about in France and never on the continent. Do you perceive that?
HM: I do and I feel it was the flawed resolution. I used to be not in cost and I feel it was a foul commercial for Africa.
It was a giant mistake; it is not going to occur once more.
RFI: Finally, why do you imagine in a greater future for rugby in Africa ?
HM: We have a brand new group at Rugby Africa, I’m a brand new president, it is a utterly new imaginative and prescient.
The world has modified, and is altering by the minute. We’ll see larger excellence in Africa.
Have perception in us. We imagine in ourselves. It’s time so that you can imagine in us as nicely.
Originally revealed on RFI