adminPaul Munyuki Sports Reporter
THE Zimbabwe Sevens rugby side’s chances of making it for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games have been brightened following the qualification of South Africa over the weekend.
The South Africans sealed a top four place in the World Series.
World Rugby have indicated that the Africa Cup would be used as the main qualifier for the Brazil Games next year.
Despite not finishing as the top side and, effectively losing their World Series lead, South Africa will not have to worry about the Olympic qualifiers after winning the Plate Final 12-10 over Scotland and sealing a top four finish with a leg to go.
The fact that South Africa managed a top four finish means that Africa now has two slots at the Games and only Kenya now stands between Zimbabwe and their Olympic Games dream.
The Cheetahs only have one tournament to play this year before they can compete at the Africa Cup set for November, the Africa Games set for September in Congo Brazzaville.
And, at the weekend, coach Daniel Hondo named a provisional 12-member squad that saw the duo of veteran forward Fortunate Chipendu and the dynamic Lenience Tambwera bouncing back into the side.
The duo were not part of the Cheetahs side that featured in Hong Kong two months ago and, in a bid to add power upfront and experience, Hondo has named Chipendu in place of scrum-half Graham Kaulback while fly-half Tambwera comes in for speed merchant Stephan Hunduza.
According to Rugby Africa, the inaugural Rugby Sevens Olympic qualification process will feature a blend of the existing men’s and women’s Series structures, regional competitions and a world play-off, ensuring universal representation and the participation of the best teams and players.
Under the qualification structure for the men’s competition, four nations will qualify from the 2014-15 Sevens World Series, one nation from each of the six World Rugby regional competitions, one from the world play-offs and automatic qualification for hosts Brazil.
The women will follow a similar format with four teams confirmed via the World Rugby women’s Sevens World Series, six from the regional competitions, the world play-off winner and automatic qualification for Brazil.
Eight teams – South Africa, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Tunisia, Namibia, Uganda, Madagascar and Senegal – have qualified for this year’s Africa Cup by virtue of them having finished in the top eight of last year’s tournament.
Pre-qualifier tournament
North: Cameroon, Mali, Togo, Ivory Coast, Nigeria, Ghana (June 6-7)
South: Rwanda, Burundi, Swaziland, Botswana, Zambia, Congo (July 26-27; Rwanda)
Final Qualifiers: South Africa, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Tunisia, Namibia, Uganda, Madagascar and Senegal plus four others from regional qualifiers (November 7-8; South Africa)
Africa Games: South Africa, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Tunisia, Namibia, Uganda, Madagascar and Senegal plus four others from regional qualifiers (September 5-10 ; Congo Brazzaville).
Women’s Olympic Qualifiers: South Africa, Kenya, Tunisia, Uganda, Madagascar, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Senegal, Namibia, Morocco (September 26-27; South Africa).
Cheetahs Africa Games Squad
Fortunate Chipendu, Lenience Tambwera, Boyd Rouse, Shayne Makombe, Kilvan Magunje, Hilton Mudariki, Tafadzwa Chitokwindo, Njabulo Ndlovu, Kudakwashe Chiwanza, Riaan O’Neill, Jacques Leitao (captain), Biselele Tshamala.
Coach: Daniel Hondo
Assistant: John Ewing
Manager: Steve Macdonald.
Online Reporter