adminformat of the game.
In doing so, the Cheetahs will this afternoon get closer to their followers when they feature at Prince Edward School in an exhibition match that players in the current high-performance centre are set to play against each other.
The exhibition match will come as a curtain raise to the much-hyped Schools Super League match between hosts Prince Edward Tigers and rivals St John’s College Rams at the Jubilee Field.
The Zimbabwe Sevens side is expected to get into camp on Monday where the last pack of foreign-based players — Justin Coles, Tafadzwa Chitokwindo and diminutive forward Njabulo Ndlovu — are expected to join their teammates.
However, with the World Cup just around the corner the Cheetahs are, according to coach Gilbert “Gidza” Nyamutsamba, trying to drum up support for their side as they also try to popularise this short version of the game.
“It’s not going to be one of those hard hitting and tough games but we would like to make the Sevens game a bit more popular and we can do so by taking it to the people and that is why we are playing before the PE/John’s game.
“Players that are in the high performance centre at the moment will take part in the game, we will have two sides, probably make the game a bit longer so that those who not understand the game can try to cope,” said the former Cheetahs and Sables back-liner.
While the Cheetahs will be busy at the Jubilee Field, across town at Harare Sports Club there will be a festival of the longer version of the game where Chitungwiza’s Southern City and Mutare Sports Club will be engaged in the Metro Challenge Cup.
The Metro Challenge Cup will this year take a different format after the cancellation of the Sables game against Belgium and the Goshawks rugby tour of South Africa last week.
Unlike in the past years where full games were played over a stretched period of time, the tournament will this year be played over just one day on a knock-out basis where each half will be 15 minutes long.
The National Rugby League was expected to take a five-week break due to the Sables’ commitments but lack of funds that led to the cancellation of the preparatory games for the Africa Cup and World Cup qualifiers have forced the NRL to resume next weekend.
Initially, the Challenge Cup was expected to have started last week but failed to take off after the NRL indicated that Sports Club were to host Mat’land Warriors in an outstanding fixture. But that game also failed to take place after the Bulawayo-based side were involved in a accident on their way to the capital between Kwekwe and Kadoma that left coach Reuben Kumpasa and assistant Vusimuzi Ndebele injured.
“So we have very little or no option but to play the games just on Saturday (tomorrow) because the league bosses have indicated that the league will have to resume next Saturday as the national team will no longer be active,” said Penias.
Super Rugby League secretary-general James Tafirenyika, who is a committee and organising member of the Metro Challenge Cup, said the games are only going to be played on a knock-out basis.
Eight teams — defending champions Red Lions, Old Hararians, Old Georgians, Mutare Sports Club, Airforce, Southern City, Edwardians and Police Defenders — are set to take part in the tournament.
“Because of time the games will be played 15 minutes aside on a knock-out basis and we have divided them into two pools of four each where each team will only play one game in this stage.
“The winners will go on to the semi-finals while the losing sides will also battle for the Bowl,” said Tafirenyika.
Pool A consists of Red Lions, Police Defenders, Mutare Sports Club and Airforce while Old Hararians, Edwardians, Old Georgians and Southern City make up the Pool of Death, Pool B.
The opening game will see the Red Lions playing Airforce, the Old Boys face Southern City, Mutare take on Edwardians while Old Georgians face Police.
The Red Lions/Airforce winner will face the winner of the game between Old Hararians and Southern City in the first semi-final while the Mutare/Edwardians winner faces the winner between OGs and Police in the second semi-final.
Online Reporter