FORMER Sables winger Aaron Jani says he is the right man to lead the Zimbabwe Rugby Union for at least the next four years and he believes his track record speaks for itself given what he has done for the Young Sables.

The Under-20 chairman added that it is time to translate the success he has achieved with the Young Sables side to all the national teams including the Cheetahs, the Sables, women’s rugby and all age-grade teams.

With the ZRU elections set to take place on Wednesday, the Young Sables chairman is expected to fight for the top rugby posts against current ZRU vice-president Nyararai Sibanda while former Sables manager and National rugby League president Noddy Kanyangarara is also reported to have joined the race.

“As the Young Sables, we have managed to participate in four Junior World Trophies hosted in Ireland, Georgia, Russia and the United States and as a result of good organisation, momentum picked up and we found ourselves self-funding.

“Even paying player allowances of as much as $300 per tournament as well as running a surplus year in year out under very tough economic conditions and l challenge any franchise or committee to match this. So it is time to replicate the skills and successes of the Under-20 Rugby Franchise to Sables, Women and Club Rugby.

“I think it would be wise for the electorate to ask themselves before casting their votes on who the best placed person to professionalise Zimbabwean rugby is, look at their track record and success, commitment, and stature to harness cooperate and stakeholder support,” said Jani.

ZRU president John Falkenberg indicated he would not run for a second term and this has seen the trio being nominated for the top rugby job in the land where Jani says as a former player, he has the interest of the players, sponsorship and development at heart.

It was after sponsoring the Prince Edward Tigers in 2006 that Jani was approached by a rugby coach to set up a committee that would help the Under-20 participate in the Junior World Rugby Trophy (as it was known then) and he agreed to chair that committee .

Then Jani worked with the likes of Francis Mugugu, Itai Chataura, Humphrey Raynor, Rick Kershaw, Jeanine Bryant, John Falkenberg, Bob McNeil, Justin Samudzimu, Edwin Gumbo, Dave Mathews physiotherapists Abigail Mnikwa and Margie Gibson, doctors Austin Jeans and Nick Munyonga, Mudiwa Mundawarara and Pete Kaulback.

“So began my journey with the Under-20 Rugby until to date. Initially it was very hard as committee members had to dig into their pockets to finance rugby, as well as spending their valuable free time administering rugby.

“Our best preparation was 2012 for JWRT in the USA , we traveled to Limpopo where we spent over a week and played three warm-up games before travelling Castre in France and spent two weeks playing games and getting expert coaching, thanks to the late Jean- Luc Barthes.

“All this we funded ourselves and also paid allowances. When we hosted the Junior Africa Cup, we renovated the Prince Edward School hostels and kitchens, changing curtains, straightening steel beds, re-painted the walls and fixed the geysers . It is this track record and the level of skills and organising ability which speaks for itself,” added the former ZRU vice-president.

Some of the top players that have graduated from the Under-20 sides that Jani led as chairman include the likes of Tapiwa Tsomondo who is doing wonders in South Africa, Farai Mudariki who is equally amazing in France, Sables backline players Charles Jiji, Hilton Mudariki, Lenience Tambwera, Tafadzwa Chitokwindo, Tichafara Makwanya and a host of other players.