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Petros Kausiyo Deputy Sports Editor
ZIMBABWE’S Cheetahs’ are confident they will be able to charm the Harare crowd when they host the Kwese International Sevens rugby tournament at Harare Sports Club.
For coach Gilbert Nyamutsamba, and his reigning African champions, the tournament on Saturday and Sunday marks the start of the journey, which they hope will culminate in qualification for the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo, Japan.
The competition has previously been staged in the resort town of Victoria Falls but was moved to the capital this year for logistical purposes. Zimbabwe, runners-up to Kenya in last year’s edition, have literally revamped their side if the training squad that has been doing business under the watchful eyes of Nyamutsamba, Donald Mangenje and Gerald Sibanda is anything to go by.
Team manager Mangenje said they would also use the tournament as a key preparatory stage for the Hong Kong Sevens.
“The tournament is very significant in the preparation for the Hong Kong core circuit qualifiers and in the overall Olympic dream.
“We are still in the formative stages of building a team that will compete for the Olympic spot and there is no better time to infuse new players than early in the year.
Cheetahs training squad:
Hayden Wilson (Normanby RLFC, Australia); Kudzai Mashawi; Blithe Maveresa (Harare Sports Club); Godfrey Magaramombe (University of Zimbabwe); Kudakwashe Chiwanza; Jerry Jaravaza (Old Georgians) Takudzwa Francisco (Harare Sports Club); Akim Dick; Tich Hwangwa (Old Georgians) Martin Mangongo (Mutare Sports Club); Shingirai Katsvere (Old Georgians); Theo Goredema; Godfrey Muzanargwo (Matabeleland Warriors) Boyd Rouse (Samurai, UK); Tinotenda Nyawasha (Mutare Sports Club); Lenience Tambwera (Harare Sports Club); Biselele Tshamala (Hwange Diggers); Lucky Sithole (Harare Sports Club); Tatenda Maunga (Mutare Sports Club); Andrea Banda (Matabeleland Warriors); Tatenda Kasorota (Old Hararians); Zepheniah Nkomo; Brandon Mandivenga (Harare Sports Club); Tatenda Kandawasvika; Tadiwa Kandawasvika (University of Zimbabwe); Stephan Hunduza (Diggers, Zambia); Takudzwa Kumadiro (Old Georgians); Nelson Madida (Matabeleland Warriors); Dylan Jera (Mutare Sports Club); Brighton Matiashe (Mutare Sports Club); Brian Nyaude (AAC, Portugal).
Camp Management:
Gilbert Nyamutsamba; Gerald Sibanda; Donald Mangenje; Amanda Tererai; Margie Gibson
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