adminlast year to earn the right to play at the World Cup set for Moscow in June but winning the event this year is not their main aim in Mombasa, Kenya, this morning.
“Of course, we would like to win the Africa Cup but we must at the same time look at the bigger picture where we want to have more players exposed before we get to the World Cup,” said Nyamutsamba.
“We must be a step ahead of uncertainties who knows we might suffer some injuries, some players might not be able to travel due to different reasons who we must be able to cover for such events.
“This is the reason we also have such a young squad touring Kenya because exposure and experience are the most important things in any sport.”
Zimbabwe have made four changes to the side that took part in Hong Kong with captain Jacques Leitao, winger Tafadzwa Chiotokwindo, Njabulo Ndlovu and Garth Zieglar out while Lucky Sithole and Japhet Ndebele are in.
Sables and Harare Sports Club centre Shayne Makombe and Old Georgians’ Rous Buoyed will be making their debut appearances in the Cheetahs colours.
Zimbabwe have been drawn in Pool A of the competition where they are set to take on Cote d’Ivoire, Morocco, and Kenya C side, Pool B consists of Tunisia, Namibia, Zambia and Kenya C while Nigeria, Madagascar, Uganda and Senegal.
“At this stage we don’t have to look at how the tournament draw looks like but we have to look at our priorities, targets and aims on where we are going and what we need to achieve in the bigger picture and we all know that we are aiming at becoming a core member and put up a better performance at the World Cup in June,” said Nyamutsamba.
The Africa Cup makes it Zimbabwe’s fourth high-profile tournament ahead of the Sevens World Cup set for Moscow, Russia, in June and they have so far successfully taken part in the Hong Kong Sevens.
However, the Cheetahs will not have much time to rest when they return from the Africa Cup as that will be their last biggest stage to test their performance before connecting to Edinburgh for the core membership final leg qualifiers.
It is here that they are supposed to make it among the top three teams if they are to earn core membership status.
Back home, Old Hararians will host most of the league games where the hosts will take on a lowly Gweru Sports Club in the main game of the day that is expected to kick off at 3pm.
However, the big one will feature Old Georgians — coming from a moral boosting win over Old Hararians last week — against unbeaten Western Panthers at the same venue kicking off at 1.30pm.
At Zvishavane’s McAdam rugby grounds, the asbestos miners host Bulawayo’s Old Miltonians.
NRL Week 3 Fixtures
Old Georgians v Western Panthers (1.30pm), Old Hararians v Gweru Sports Club (3pm), Zvishavane Bulls v Old Miltonians (3pm MacAdam Rugby Ground)
- All games at Old Hararians Sports Club unless stated.
Africa Cup Draw
Pool A: Zimbabwe, Cote d’Ivoire, Morocco and Kenya C.
Pool B: Tunisia, Namibia, Zambia and Kenya B
Pool C: Nigeria, Madagascar, Uganda, Senegal.
Online Reporter