Sundaymail Editor
Deputy Sports Editor
THERE is a renewed sense of urgency in the way the women’s rugby Sevens side are going about their business.
Morale is high in the camp and coach Derek Chiwara sees light at the end of the tunnel.
It is the Lady Cheetahs’ gaffer’s belief that the delay in the dates and venue for the Sevens’ World Cup pre-qualifiers is a blessing in disguise for his charges.
“To be honest, we are thankful for the delay in the dates and venues for the pre-qualifiers.
“We are not where we want to be as a team, and this is not necessarily confined to fitness levels.
“The absence of rugby in these girls’ lives has had a profound impact on them,” he said.
Chiwara and his technical crew held some trials last weekend at Old Georgians Sports Club to identify potential players for the national team.
“The trials were an eye-opener; in fact, we needed them as a technical department.
“Having seen the girls play, we had a lot of positives and negatives that came out of that exercise.
“The general psychology of preparing for a rugby meet was lacking, standards had dropped a bit and the technical aspects of the game were missing.
“There is a lot of work to be done and luckily we have some time to right all those wrongs and get to the level we want and have to be.”
Events of the past week, in particular the return of sport, have added to Chiwara’s optimism and changed his general overview.
The former Old Georgians coach can now see light at the end of the tunnel.
Last weekend’s trials saw the Cheetahs’ technical team come up with a 15-member squad that comprises both old and new faces.
Chiwara hopes to expand the exercise to two more regions and secure some local tournaments now that sport has returned.
“The timing of the return of sport couldn’t be more ideal.
“First, we just had a very eye-opening and well-received trial and scrimmage exercise.
“We opened it to everyone who wanted to try out and the response was very promising.
“We had both old and new players within the system, while a few newcomers from other sporting disciplines came in. “The enthusiasm, talent and potential was very pleasing.”
He hopes to hold similar exercises in Mutare and Bulawayo, and to get as many players as possible.
The former Sables team manager is currently working on an action plan that he hopes to present to the Zimbabwe Rugby Union and get as many clubs involved.
“The goal will be to have two or three local tournaments that we will use to get game time for the team and identify more players.
“We will need the collective effort of the rugby fraternity and the assistance of the union to get these tournaments going,” he said.
Lady Cheetahs Squad:
Caroline Malenga, Gladys Mukome, Lindiwe Munerenyu, Rumbidzai Chigumbu, Peace Sithole, Tiffany Majero, Kudzi Wasili, Ruvimbo Musere, Constance Ngwende, Faith Mhungira, Ruvimbo Mudyanadzo, Samantha Chirongoma, Margaret Magwaro, Nikita Kuleya, Ellen Chikoto
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