adminmembership at the Hong Kong Sevens later this month.
“It has been overdue but it is a good feeling that I am going to lead the boys as head coach and at the end of the day nothing much has changed because I have been preparing the boys and I have been assistant (coach) for five years,” said Nyamutsamba.
“It is during that time that I have served as (stand-in) coach of the Cheetahs.
“I have always been ready for the task but it is commitment that counts and I am committed to serving the side.”
Nyamutsamba was named Cheetahs’ coach at the weekend, a little less than a month after England-based Liam Middleton was named director of coaching.
And yesterday Nyamutsamba took full Cheetahs’ squad through their paces at Old Georgians Sports Club in preparation for the Spar Zimbabwe International Sevens tournament set for Harare Sports Club on Saturday and Sunday.
Lloyd Machanjaira and Japhet Ndebele were added to the training squad to replace Germany-based Gardner Nechironga and South Africa-based Njabulo Ndlovu who both have club commitments at their respective bases.
“Playing at home makes it special, especially to our loyal fans, who have been watching us play as a team only on television on the international circuit,” said Nyamutsamba.
“Zambia is a strong team they have given us a good run in the previous times we have played them, the South Africa Academy will give us stiff competition as well while Botswana have good up and coming players but we will not take them lightly.
“But we only have one goal going into the home tournament and that is to win.”
According to Cheetahs’ manager, Bruce Hobson, most of the sides are expected in the country this evening with the South Africa Academy, Mpumalanga, Buffaloes and Northern Region arriving from Down South while Zambia, Botswana, the Cheetahs and Goshawks complete the collection.
But the biggest test — not only for Nyamutsamba but the whole Cheetahs squad — will come in three weeks time.
If the Cheetahs finish among the top three in the B Division of the tournament, they will qualify for core membership.
In their group Zimbabwe have been drawn against Spain, Canada and the Philippines, who are taking part for the first time on the IRB circuit, and Nyamutsamba is concerned about Spain and Canada whom they have played before.
“We have to give all we have in the IRB tournament in Hong Kong at the end of March because my main aim at the moment is to make sure that we qualify and become one of the core teams in the World Series.
“The pool we have been drawn in at Hong Kong is tough I must say and that is why we have to take the Spar International seriously and not give a chance to any one of the teams that we are going to play at the weekend.
“The stiffer the competition we face, the better our side plays so I am sure in Hong Kong we are going to play better though it is not going to be easy for all of us but we have to give our best shot. It’s a do-or-die situation.
“At the moment my first goal is to qualify for core membership and, if we achieve that, then we will have to start looking at other programmes such as development.
“I am happy that the sport has generally seen increased interest and growth with the schools having introduced a Sevens side that plays at the (Under-18) Craven Week festival (in South Africa) and at the Tuskers in Kenya.
“An academy has been set up in Mabvuku and these are signs that the game is getting bigger.
“Like many others, I also feel that the importance of this tournament should not be undermined because it has a lot of potential to grow, it is a platform to expose and discover more talent as schools will also be part of the programme.
“We have always wanted to have a local tournament but due to the difficulties in the past, that include sponsorship and co-ordination, it was difficult but the coming on board of a number of sponsors, who include Spar, has seen this become a reality.”
Meanwhile, Marius Schoeman, head of the South African Sevens Academy, yesterday told Sport24 that his main objective was to give his young Academy players experience in senior international competitions.
The side recently returned from Uruguay where they had their first international experience.
The Zimbabwe Sevens tournament will be their second tournament and, in their team, they will have a Zimbabwean player, Preston Bryant.
“The purpose for the Academy is to produce future Springbok sevens players. We believe the development of players should take place prior their first outing in the Sevens World Series,” Schoeman said.
“This is the first time this tournament takes place in Zimbabwe and we expect to encounter quite a few good sides — both provincial and international.
“We are taking a very strong side, which includes three players who have played for the Blitzbokke.
“A few players in the senior national side are injured and good performances by the already capped players and even some of the younger guys might earn them a spot in the side that goes to Hong Kong at the end of March”
Squads
Cheetahs: Fortune Chipendu, Jacques Leitao (captain), Mike Morris, Manasah Sita, Justin Coles, Graham Kaulback, Kelvin Magunje, Daniel Hondo, Gerald Sibanda, Tangai Nemadire, Jonathan Mcwade, Wesley Mbanje, Tafadzwa Chitokwindo, Lloyd Machanjaira, Jafet Ndebele.
Goshawks: Tolerance Zishe, Shingirai Mpofu, Stephan Hunduza, Shayne Makombe (Harare Sports Club), Josh Smallbones, Simba Gonese, Craig Elcombe, Scotty Jones, Liberty Mutowonzi, Wilson Seremani (Old Georgians), Patrick Tenesi, Kudzai Mashavi (Police Defenders), Itai Vambe (Old Hararians), Kuda Chiwanza (Sharks Academy SA).
SA Academy: Pieter Engelbrecht, MJ Mentz, Dirk Dippenaar, Kwagga Smit, Shane Spring, Chase Minnaar, Justin Geduld, Preston Bryant, Ruwellyn Isbell, JP Lewis, Werner Kok, Juwell Samuels.
Draw
Pool A: Zimbabwe, Buffaloes, Botswana, N. Select.
Pool B: SA Academy, Northern Region, Zambia, Goshawks.
Women: Sports Club, Old Hararians, Police, Air Force.
Online Reporter