Cheetahs ready for Cape Town Sevens Series

Paul Munyuki Sports Reporter
ZIMBABWE might be at the Cape Town leg of the World Sevens Rugby Series by invitation but they would like to prove that they can equal or better the performance of some of the core members. With the tournament getting underway tomorrow, the Cheetahs will this afternoon have a captains’ run and have a feel of Cape Town Stadium, the match venue and captain Hilton Mudariki knows they are out to prove a point.

Drawn in Pool B with Sevens giants in the form of South Africa and England, Zimbabwe know that they have the capability of upsetting Kenya having lost to them at the final buzzer in Johannesburg last month.

Then Mudariki was out due to a hamstring injury he had picked during the Kenya Safari Sevens tournament and watched from the terraces but the midfielder believes his side has worked on the mistakes they made then. And he will be back to command his side adding that every one of the players has to play their part and also that they should play as a unit should they end the year on a good note.

“No doubt I am a hundred percent confident we will get a win over them. “I feel that us playing Kenya for the second time in as many months is an opportunity for us to avenge for the defeat we suffered to the in the final of the 2016 Olympic qualifier also in South Africa,” said the University of Johannesburg scrummy.

Meanwhile, the Zimbabwe Under-20 side is expected to get into camp today, marking their first grouping in preparation for the Junior World Trophy set for Harare next year.

Squads:
Cheetahs: Jacques Leitao, Njabulo Ndlovu, Riaan O’Neill, Kudakwashe Chiwanza, Boyd Rouse, Graham Kaulback, Stephan Hunduza, Lenience Tambwera, Shayne Makombe, Mkululi Ndhlela.

Zimbabwe Under-20 training squad:

Forwards: Connor Pritchard (Falcon College), Cole Bond (St John’s College), Aiden Burnett (St John’s College), Tanaka Chikwezvero (Maritzburg, SA), Tinashe Gonese (SA), Ronald Jiri (Dale College), Muchineripi Mangenje (Prince Edward), Justin Mendelsohn (Sharks), Rodrick Mubaiwa (UK), Tinotenda Musasanura (CBC), Kudakwashe Ndoro (Prince Edward), Martin Shioma (Limpopo Blue Bulls), Panashe Sora (Prince Edward), B. Muntanga (Falcon), S. Bhasera (UJ), J. Makoni (PE), L. Kenny (SGC), S. Magwenzi (Churchill), Ndaba (PE), T. Bwerinofa (Kyle), T. Zhoya (UJ), C. Butler (Falcon), D.Nyamugama (Freestate), L. Ngwenya (USA), T. Muchena (SGC), K. Chisango (SGC), T. Mangwana (Aus).

Backs: Russell Dinha (Prince Edward), Tadiwa Gochera (St Benedict’s College), Shingirai Katsvere (Prince Edward), Mudiwa Manhombo (St Benedict’s College), Tatenda Matoramusha (Prince Edward), Joshua Gando (Lomagundi), Ernest Mudzengerere (Prince Edward), Tawanda Ngosi (Durban), Matthew Ushewokunze (Falcon College), Ngoni Zinyama (UK), C. Nyakudya (Falcon), R. Elliot (Durban), M. Muswaburi (Nottingham Academy), K. Kazembe (WPI), M. Musvaiburi (UK), G. Mavara (Dale), Maupah (Goldridge), Phiri (Falcon), R. Chionyere (Churchill), F. Murinye (SGC), T. Mapfumo (Kyle), K. Munangi (Maritzburg), D. McRoberts (UK), T. Vheriwa (PH), A. Bruce (SGC), T. Moses (PE), T. Gamanya (Kyle)