Chronicle Editor
Mehluli Sibanda, Senior Sports Reporter
THREE Botswana based players, all from Spartans Rugby Club have been called up to the Zimbabwe national sevens rugby squad for two World Rugby Sevens Challenger Series tournaments in South America this month.
Emmanuel Zangari, Mkhululi Ndlela and Godknows Mavara are the Spartans players who made the final squad of 12 for the tournaments in Chile and Uruguay. The two legs of the inaugural World Rugby Sevens Challenger Series will be played in Chile (15-16 February) and Uruguay (22-23 February).
Zangari, Ndlela and Mavara have been with the Gaborone based Spartans for years with the Botswana club having become a powerhouse on the sevens scene in Southern Africa. In 2018, Spartans beat the Cheetahs 26-14 to win the Kwese Victoria Falls Sevens.
From the last tournament the Cheetahs took part in, Tafadzwa Chitokwindo, Ngoni Chibuwe, Njabulo Ndlovu and Connor Pritchard are not part of the team heading off to South America. A squad of 13 players has been in Springs, South Africa since last Friday for a training camp with the final 12 to head off to Chile tomorrow.
Zimbabwe are one of the 16 teams that are taking part in the two tournaments in South America over the two weekends. Chile, Brazil and Mexico are Zimbabwe’s group stage opponents in the first tournament. At the end of the two competitions, the top eight teams progress to the final play-off tournament at the Cathay Pacific/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens event on 3-5 April, where they will compete for a spot on the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series 2021.
Zimbabwe Cheetahs for World Rugby Sevens Challenger Series: Nelson Madida, Emmanuel Zangari, Tapiwa Tsomondo, Takudzwa Kumadiro, Mkhululi Ndlela, Shingirai Katsvere, Martin Mangongo, Biselele Tshamala, Hilton Mudariki, Godknows Mavara, Stephan Hunduza(captain), Riaan O’Neill
Coach: Gilbert Nyamutsamba
Physiotherapist: Margaret Gibson
Team manager: Donald Mangenje
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Bongani Ndlovu