adminFrom Paul Munyuki in JOHANNESBURG, South Africa
AFTER three months of inactivity, the Zimbabwe Sevens rugby side returns to action today at the Nashua Sevens International tournament in Middelburg. Zimbabwe have made five changes to the side that took part at the Sevens World Cup in June and this has resulted in the inclusion of two new caps, Biselele Tshamala and Hilton Mudariki.
Coached by Gilbert “Gidza” Nyamutsamba, the Cheetahs are using the tournament to prepare for the International season that starts in a few weeks time with the International Rugby Board World Sevens Series in Australia.
However, the Cheetahs will not be taking part in Australia as they are not a core team, having failed to qualify in May.
But they will play in the Port Elizabeth leg of the series early December in South Africa.
Nyamutsamba yesterday told The Herald that the inclusion of Tshamala and Mudariki was part of his plans to develop and bring depth into the side — preparing to gradually overhaul the squad he has been with for the past few years.
From the side that travelled to Moscow for the World Cup, captain Jacques Leitao, playmaker Daniel Hondo, Mike Morris, Garth Ziegler and Tangai Nemadire have been dropped.
Nemadire has been relegated to the development side, the Goshawks, where he joins others who have played for the Cheetahs before — Kuda Chiwanza, Shayne Makombe, Lloyd Machanjaira and Jafet Ndebele.
“It is good that we have this tournament as it gives us a chance of looking at players that we would have included in the respective sides because it is all about giving them exposure and it also gives me the chance to see how they perform under certain conditions.
“It is good that South Africa and Wales, who are both core teams, are also taking part in the event so it will test the abilities of our players without necessarily just throwing them in the deep-end at the world stage where there is a lot of pressure,” said Nyamutsamba.
The other three players that have come in are Bouyd Rouse, Tapiwa Tsomondo and Stephan Hunduza, who have all played for the Cheetahs at some stage.
“In coming up with these sides we are trying to strike a balance between depth and experience and that is why we have debutantes in this Cheetahs side.
“It is not that the senior players that are in the Goshawks side have done anything wrong but it’s the need to keep them match fit at the same time giving the young players an opportunity to prove themselves.
“We have been looking at both (Tshamala and Mudariki) for some time now and Tshamala has been in our plans given how he has been performing with the Sables,” said Nyamutsamba.
Wales and South Africa will not be the only teams in the tournament as provincial sides from the host nation will also be part of the only other Sevens international tournament Down South after the IRB Port Elizabeth leg.
Nyamutsamba knows the challenge the threat these provincial sides, which include Free State Cheetahs, Buffaloes, Mpumalanga Pumas, Blue Bulls and Griquas, can pose.
“We are not going to take any of the teams lightly and we have to be at our best,” said Nyamutsamba.
Online Reporter