adminMbachi Mutukula-Maregere Sports Reporter
ZIMBABWE’S Cheetahs have begun their preparations for the IRB World Series tournament in South Africa by naming an enlarged 34-man squad that will feature in a series of warm up games on the local front.
The Cheetahs are expected to take part in the tournament that will run at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth on December 7- 8.
But before they pick their final travelling squad for the IRB series, the selectors will use the local games that are being lined up for the next two weeks after which they will trim the side.
The Zimbabwe Rugby Union sought to cast their selection net wider and decided to hold a series of tournaments which will start at Harare Sports Club this weekend after which those selected in the trimmed squad, which will be reduced to 18 that would then travel for a training camp at Innovate High Performance Centre starting on Wednesday 27th November.
Included in the training squad are eight developing players who will form the basis of a national rugby academy structure for the future.
The academy program is part of the new Sevens Strategic plan for the development of the game in Zimbabwe and its drive towards developing future Sevens Olympians.
Zimbabwe Rugby has a vision for the game in the country, to grow the game and inspire more children —boys and girls — to participate in the sport.
But for now the focus is on the the IRB series where players like the Lion Lager National Rugby League player of the year Teddy Hwata and the Top try scorer Steven Hunduza, Farai Jijita, Jacques Leitao , Fortune Chipendu, and Gardner Nechironga should be a key component of the squad.
The tournament will provide such players like Hwata with a platform to gain international exposure and showcase their talents against some of the world’s best.
“I am very happy to be part of the squad and I hope I will make it to the final squad. It is really amazing how my season has turned out to be this year, my mother has been so helpful and I will just continue to believe in myself and train hard so that I can be the country’s top player in the seasons to come,” said Hwata.
The Zimbabwe selected squads are currently busy at the moment taking part in the rugby series which will give the selectors a chance of knowing who to pick for the Cheetahs squad.
Zimbabwe training Squad:
Chipendu Fortune, Chitokwindo Rubber, Chowe Tawanda, Hunduza Steven, Jijita Farai, Leitao Jacques , Magunje Kilvan, Makombe Shayne, Mbanje Wes, Mudairiki Hilton Ndlovu Jabu, Nechironga Gardner, Nemadire Tangai, Nicholl Dan, Rouse Boyd, Sita Manasah, Tambwera Lenience, Tshamala Bisele, Tsomondo Tapiwa, Tshuma Llungile Laizer Sean Chiwanza Kuda, Lang Kingsley, Hwata Teddy.
Development Players:
Coles Sean, Roach Sebastian, Boschy Brendan, Mhembere Sheppard, Vangu Morgan Mukonyora Tafadzwa, Kumadiro Takudzwa,Ndhlela Mkhululi
Online Reporter