Tinashe Kusema-Zimpapers Sports Hub
THE Zimbabwe Sevens rugby team will be out to make a statement when they travel to Kenya for the 2026 edition of the Safari Sevens series this weekend.
As reigning Africa Cup champions, the Cheetahs want to prove that their conquest in Uganda last month was no fluke.
“Winning the Rugby Africa Cup was huge for us,” said Cheetahs skipper Tapiwa Malenga.
“Now, we have kept our core group for the Safari, adding a couple of new exciting youngsters.
“We are not going to just compete and add numbers, but we want to make a statement and win the cup,” he said.
The Safari Sevens – slated for October 9-11 at the Nyayo National Stadium in Nairobi, Kenya — is set to attract 12 men’s and six women’s teams that will slug it out for the coveted title.
These include the defending champions Kenya Shujaa, the Kenya Morans, Zimbabwe, Uganda, Shogun (UK), Scotland, the French Renegades, Wonder 7s, Wellington Jaguars (South Africa), GEL 7s (South Africa), SportPesa Fast Forwards (SA), and the Southern California Nomads (US).
The women’s category will feature six teams, namely the Kenya Lionesses, Kenya Cubs, Uganda, Shibli, Costa Blanca Barbarians (Spain — 2024 champions), and Tunisia.
The 12 men’s teams have been divided into three groups, with Pool A consisting of Kenya Shujaa, Uganda, SportPesa Fast Forwards and Scotland.
Pool B includes Shogun, French Renegades, Wellington Jaguars and Southern California Nomads.
Zimbabwe are in Pool C alongside Kenya Morans, GEL and Wonder 7s.
“Our group is a tough but good one,” said Malenga.
“As African champions, and for our preparations for Dubai, the games ahead are not going to be easy, so we have to be ready to play against any and all good, solid teams.
“That is what the Safari Sevens will offer and, most specifically, our group.
“It is exactly what we need,” he said.
Zimbabwe, of course, go into the Safari Sevens with momentum on their side.
This comes after Zimbabwe last month conquered the Africa Cup in Uganda, finishing the tournament as the only unbeaten side.
They beat Uganda 26-19 in the final to not only claim their first Africa Cup title since 2018 but also earn promotion back into the World Rugby HSBC SVNS 3 tournament.
They are expected to travel to Dubai to fight for promotion into the second-tier division.
Malenga believes that the Safari Sevens tournament will afford the Cheetahs a chance to polish up on their game, with defence an area of concern.
“We have a few set objectives going into Safari, with our defence structure an area of concern,” said the Cheetahs skipper.
“Our defence was a big let-down in Uganda, but we have been working on it.
“Preparations for Kenya have been good so far.
“We had a good three days of rest after the Africa Cup in Uganda and have since trooped back into camp.
“Training volumes have been controlled, and we have been mostly focusing on areas we didn’t do well last time out.
“The belief is back in the team.
“We showed that we can control big games and manage pressure back in Uganda, and now we want to move a step up.
“The brotherhood in this squad is special. There is still plenty of work to do in defence as we made too many errors and gave away easy tries.
“Those small details can cost us, and we need to improve.”
Cheetahs Traveling Squad
Tavonga Ablant
Takudzwa Kamucheta
Tapiwa Malenga
PK Manyakara
Tadiwanashe Maradze
Carlos Matematema
Munopa Muneta
Ryan Musumhi
Munyaradzi Ngandu
Kudakwashe Nyamakura
Joshua Thondhlana
Gamuchirai Nekati
