adminThe Cheetahs got a favourable World Cup draw, as they were drawn in Pool C where they are expected to take on giants Samoa, the Philippines and Kenya in a tournament that runs from June 28 to 30.
The squad comprises all the 12 players that represented Zimbabwe at the core membership qualifiers that took place in London last month, with only four more faces being added.
Justin Coles, Stefan Hunduza, Garth Ziegler, Mike Morris are the additions to the side which travelled to London.
Coles was not able to join the Cheetahs for the London tour as he had commitments at his new base in South Africa where he was said to be still settling, Morris was involved with educational commitments, Ziegler was tied up in France with club obligations while Hunduza had failed to make the cut.
The Cheetahs have three weeks of preparation and most of the players are already in camp for the world stage but the quartet of winger Coles, forward Tapiwa Tsomondo, Tafadzwa Chitokwindo and another forward Njabulo Ndlovu are yet to join camp.
They are expected in on Monday as they are currently tied up with exams at their respective colleges in South Africa but Nyamutsamba believes they will cope with the World Cup preparations.
“We have just added four more players to the side that travelled to London for the IRB core membership qualifiers, everyone else is in camp save for Tsomondo, Chitokwindo, Coles and Njabulo
“They will be in latest on the 17th of this month and I have spoken and agreed with the Sables (XVs) committee not to include them in their proposed tour of South Africa because we would like to avoid such things as injuries,” said Nyamutsamba.
Skipper Jacques Leitao, Fortune Chipendu, Lucky Sithole, Ndlovu, Tsomondo, Kilvan Magunje, Daniel Hondo, Gardner Nechironga, Tangai Nemadire, Zieglar and Chitokwindo are some of the key Cheetahs that had been named in the provisional Sables squad, whose tour has since been cancelled.
“As we get closer to the tournament date we obviously are going to get more technical because all along we have been working on the physical aspect of the game. The strength and conditioning coaches have done a great job because the boys are fit.
“Once we are all in camp we will have four training sessions everyday until our departure at Old Georgians Sports Club.
“Sevens being a dynamic version of the game means that I will have to call in others if I need help for example the likes of Godwin Murambiwa (former Sables and current Under-18 coach) and Supa (Sables assistant coach) Cyprian Mandenge.
“Of course they are XVs coaches but there are certain aspects of the game that I might need help from them and so were necessary I will have to ask for help,” said Nyamutsamba.
Old Georgians player Graham Kaulback was ruled out of the World Cup late January, after he broke his leg during a national team training session and an operation saw him being ruled out of the game for six months.
This effectively resulted in Kaulback missing out of the Spar Zimbabwe International Sevens rugby tournament, the London qualifiers and the Africa Cup played in Kenya.
Other players that have over the years fallen on the wayside include Germany-based Manasah Sita and Scotland-based Gerald Sibanda, who were also haunted by nagging injuries.
Cheetahs Squad:
Jacques Leitao (captain), Fortune Chipendu, Daniel Hondo, Gardner Nechironga, Njabulo Ndlovu, Lucky Sithole, Wensley Mbanje, Japhet Ndebele, Tangai Nemadire, Tapiwa Tsomondo, Tafadzwa Chitokwindo, Kilvan Magunje, Justin Coles, Stefan Hunduza, Garth Ziegler, Mike Morris.
Online Reporter