adminNyamutsamba told The Herald they are ready for the challenge having been drawn in Pool C of the three-day tournament set for Moscow, Russia, starting on Friday where they will take on the Philippines, Samoa and Kenya.
“We have done the best we can in the preparations, we played as many tournaments as possible so we are in a good position going into the World Cup.
“It all comes down to our work rate and the opportunities we got and I am happy that we utilised the chances we got given the available resources,” said Nyamutsamba.
This year’s preparations for the World Cup were the best any senior national rugby side as the Cheetahs were given contracts after the committee, responsible for the affairs of the team. adopted a semi-professional set-up.
Since qualifying for the Sevens World Cup, the Cheetahs took part at the Port Elizabeth leg of the World Sevens Series last December before hosting their own Spar Zimbabwe International tournament where they finished third.
However, their highlight in the build-up to the World Cup was when they won the core membership qualifier tournament in Hong Kong, travelled to Kenya for the Africa Cup before missing out on core membership in London.
Hardworking Tapiwa Tsomondo was dropped for Mike Morris who returns to the side after 13 months away from the national side.
“Our target is to at least get into the Cup quarter finals,” said Nyamutsamba.
“We never expected an easy draw because this is a high-level tournament and we have to be up for it and with the kind of preparations we have undertaken this time around, combined with the trials, I am sure we have a strong squad for the games.”
If the Cheetahs are to make it for the quarter finals then they have to finish among the top eight teams in the competitions.
In the last World Cup the Cheetahs were under the guidance of Liam Middleton, who last week was in the country helping out Nyamutsamba prepare his side, and they won the Bowl.
Nyamutsamba feels they have the potential to do better.
Captain Jacques Leitao and his vice Daniel Hondo, forward Fortunate Chipendo and the backline trio of Gardner Nechironga, Tangai Nemadire and Wenseley Mbanje give the side its experience.
Njabulo Ndlovu, Morris, Lucky Sithole, Kilvan Magunje, and Garth Ziegler bring in the weight.
Zimbabwe are expected in Russia on Monday evening and according to Nyamutsamba they will have four training sessions before match day.
Cheetahs World Cup Squad:
Fortunate Chipendu, Jacques Leitao (captain), Lucky Sithole, Njabulo Ndlovu, Garth Ziegler, Daniel Hondo, Tangai Nemadire, Gardner Nechironga, Wes Mbanje, Tafadzwa Chitokwindo, Mike Morris, Kilvan Magunje.
Sevens World Cup Draw
Pool A: Australia, France, Spain, Tunisia
Pool B: South Africa, Scotland, Russia, Japan
Pool C: Samoa, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Philippines
Pool D: New Zealand, USA, Canada, Georgia
Pool E: Fiji, Wales, Tonga, Uruguay
Pool F: England, Argentina, Portugal, Hong Kong.
Online Reporter