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Paul Munyuki Sports Reporter
THE Zimbabwe Sevens rugby side know that they have to put up a better performance compared to last year if they are to win the Zimbabwe Sevens invitational tournament which gets underway at Harare Sports Club tomorrow.Last year Zimbabwe lost the title to South Africa who beat them in the semi-final and the Cheetahs are aware that they have to be inches ahead of their opposition to finish tops.
But the hosts also acknowledge that it will not be a walk in the park given the calibre of opposition they are going to face in the two-day tournament as they will have to overcome the likes of South Africa, Russia, Georgia and Hong Kong.
Cheetahs’ versatile player Gardner Nechironga believes there is all the reasons for the Zimbabwe Sevens players to impress this weekend when they play on home soil.
It is also the Cheetahs’ last chance to fine tune their side before they leave for the Hong Kong tournament.
Zimbabwe are aiming at becoming a World Series core member and winning the Hong Kong tournament at the end of this month would make them a core member.
It is from this weekend’s tournament that coach Gilbert Nyamutsamba is expected to pick his travelling party giving his players all the reason to prove themselves as the Goshawks will also be featuring in the same tournament.
“It would be good especially getting game time before going to Hong Kong which is our biggest goal in the short term because we need to qualify as a core member but it all starts here with the way we prepare.
“The local tournament will also help us gauge and see where exactly we are and what we need to do, our areas of weakness and strength so I hope I will be able to impress,” said the former Old Hararians backliner.
The foreign based duo of Lenience Tambwera and Biselele Tshamala were not yet in late yesterday, but the former is expected to be part of the side that will have a light training session today ahead of the tournament.
Tshamala will be the last player to join the team as he is expected in tomorrow morning.
“We should group up as a team on Thursday (today) because the players in Harare are under Liam (Middleton director of coaching) and I am in charge of the Bulawayo based players.
“It would have been much better if we had a much longer training session before going to Hong Kong but I guess we need the camp more towards Hong Kong than our own tournament and we have to do with the available resources,” said Nyamutsamba.
The former Cheetahs and Sables winger believes that the selection tournament that was held at the weekend proved that there is an improvement especially for the players that are undergoing strength and conditioning.
“There was a slight improvement owing to the fact that most of the players are making use of the high performance centre, they have improved on strength and conditioning an area that we have always wanted to improve on especially against more professional sides,” said Nyamutsamba.
As part of their preparations for the tournament, the Goshawks — the Zimbabwe development side — will later today engage Hong Kong in a warm up match at 5pm.
With Hilton Mudariki and Brandon Boshi dropped to the Goshawks, the developmental side is expected to be stronger and more competitive this year as the team also includes the likes of Lucky Sithole, Japhet Ndebele, and Lloyd Muchanjaira, who have all played for the Cheetahs before.
“These may not be the final squads for the side that will travel to Hong Kong for the Word Series core membership qualifiers because some players might impress during the local Sevens and they have to be given a chance,” said Nyamutsamba.
Zimbabwe Squads:
Cheetahs: Biselele Tshamala, Jacques Leitao (captain), Jabulo Ndlovu, Stephen Hunduza, Lenience Tambwera, Tangai Nemadire, Tafadzwa Chitokwindo, Fortunate Chipendu, Boyd Rouse, Kilvan Magunje, Benjamin Nichols, Gardner Nechironga.
Goshawks: Lucky Sithole, Farai Jijita, Takudzwa Kumadiro, Tadius Whata, Hilton Mudairiki (captain), Kuda Makwasha, Brandon Boshi, Japhet Ndebele, Riaan O’Neill, Craig Elcombe, Lloyd Muchanjaira, Brian Dube.
Online Reporter