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Brandon Moyo
THE BULAWAYO Metropolitan Sevens Rugby squad leaves today for Harare where they are scheduled to compete in the 2024 Zambezi Sevens Series pencilled in for tomorrow and Sunday.
The Sevens tournament features various teams from across the country fighting for the top honours. The Bulawayo side is made up of 28 players who will then compete as two teams.
They will be competing as Bulawayo Metropolitan and Zimbabwe South. The selected players were picked during a local sevens tournament held at Hartsfield Rugby Grounds last Saturday. The tournament featured Matabeleland Warriors, Old Miltonians (OMs), Panthers, Bulldogs, Highlanders, Gweru Sports Club, Nust and Zimbabwe School of Mines.
However, due to bad light, the tournament final between Warriors and Panthers could not be played.
Despite that, the tournament organisers managed to come up with names of players they have deemed fit to fly the province’s flag high against some of the best in the country.
With the men’s event not having an outright winner, the women’s tournament was won by Matabeleland Warriors. Players began training on Tuesday and they had their last session yesterday ahead of today’s departure.
From the 28 players, Matabeleland Warriors contributed the most in the squad with nine while OMs will have four of their players donning the provincial colours. Panthers managed to have seven players make the provincial squad.
There were five players selected from the Gweru Sports Club team and three from Bulldogs. The technical team will be led by head coach, Busani Ncube with Thabani Sakupwanya acting as the assistant coach. George Hlatshwayo was named the manager.
Ncube said it was all systems go ahead of the start of the tournament in which he is hoping to see his players make names for themselves.
“Everything is going well, the boys are ready and looking forward to the challenge. We are all looking forward to the tournament. It’s always great to be part of Zambezi Sevens as the boys will play against good teams and learn. It’s also a chance for some to be seen for the national sevens side. We hope to be able to raise the needed money to cover expenses for accommodation, transport and meals for both teams,” said Ncube.
He added: “We trained throughout the week and concluded our preparations on Thursday, it is all systems go, we are looking forward to an entertaining two days of competition in Harare against some of the best in the country.”
This past weekend’s tournament at Hartsfield marked the start of the Sevens season. After the completion of the tournament in Harare, players will return to their respective clubs in preparation for BMRFB’s Sevens league , which will run for three weeks. The league will likely be followed by the annual Unforgettable Sevens tournament in November.
Byo Metro Squad for Zambezi Sevens Series:
Brian Dube (Warriors), Bradley Takawira (Warriors), Tawanda Takawira (Warriors), Exalted Tom (Warriors), Glen Maseko (Warriors), Spencer Dube (Warriors), Emmanuel Mazikana (Warriors), Keith Nyathi (Warriors), Vuyiswa Mpofu (Warriors), Justin Khumalo (OMs), Lawrence Mutakiwa (OMs), Babongile Ncube (OMs), Shaun (OMs), Tanaka Ndiraire (Panthers), Ntandoyenkosi Ndlovu (Panthers), Mbongeni Phiri (Panthers), Bongani Muzamba (Panthers), Thabo Ndlovu (Panthers), Brandon Ncube (Panthers), Bongani Moyo (Panthers), Shaun (Bulldogs), Takudzwa Sithole (Bulldogs), Tafadzwa Gonzo (Bulldogs), Tawanda Chikani (Gweru Sports Club), Tadiwa Ruvaro (Gweru Sports Club), Deon Wayne Mckenzie (Gweru Sports Club), Farai Anthony Kalubi (Gweru Sports Club), Joseph Mudzingwa (Gweru Sports Club).
Online Reporter