Cheetahs squad announced

tomorrow for the Hong Kong first leg of the International Rugby Board World Sevens Series set for Hong Kong next Friday.
Mitchell – who is also the Zimbabwe Rugby Union general manager and a qualified strength and fitness trainer – will be the only one among the 13 players that were in camp who will not be travelling for the Asian tournament.
Mitchell was also not part of the squad that toured the opening legs of the Sevens Series in Dubai and George last December as the Cheetahs technical team looks at building a side for the next World Cup.
However, Cheetahs manager Bruce Hobson yesterday indicated that they were looking for speed and this influenced them into including Shingai Chiwanga and Gerald Sibanda who were also not part of the side that played in Dubai and George.
Chiwanga and Sibanda come in to replace centre Daniel Hondo who will not be travelling due to family commitments while Jason Graham was not in the plans of the Cheetahs technical committee.
This means the Cheetahs will not have their usual playmaker Hondo and Tangai Nemadire would have to play the role while winger Manasa Sita and Justin Coles have been moved to the forwards to add speed on the breakdowns.
The last time England based Chiwanga featured for the Cheetahs was last year at the same tournament.
“Grant will not be making it for the tour because we are looking at making the side as mobile as can be. Looking at the side we have, one can tell that we are after speed.
“In the absence of Hondo we will have to play around with the players we have because he is our playmaker and the idea of such a team set up is also to balance up speed and power,” said the former Zimbabwe Rugby Union president.
Sita, Tangai Nemadire, Gerald Sibanda, Chiwanga, Wes Mbanje, Tafadzwa Chitokwindo and Gardner Nechironga can all play as wingers with Sita and Nechironga coming in as utility players as they can play in the forward line.
The Cheetahs have been drawn in Pool F where they are set to take on perennial rivals Argentina Pumas, Canada and giants Australia.
This is one of the biggest tournaments on the Sevens Series as it caters for 24 teams while most of the events on the IRB Sevens calendar are 16-team competitions.
Meanwhile, a youthful Old Hararians side is expected to lead the attack when the Heineken Old Hararians rugby tournament gets underway in the capital this morning while experienced Costa Dinha is doubtful for the event.
The tournament is expected to start at 10am and will be divided into three categories – the men’s – which will comprise of A League teams – the second tier and the women’s category.
This is the second time in as many years that Lusaka will be coming to Zimbabwe for a pre-season event having won last year’s tournament with wins over Sports Club and the Old Boys.
With a number of players coming from school, Old Hararians believe this is the perfect moment to give the young players an opportunity to display what they are made of before the start of the National Rugby League.
Cheetahs Squad
Fortune Chipendo, Jacques Leitao (captain), Njabulo Ndlovu, Manasa Sita, Justin Coles, Graham Kaulback, Tangai Nemadire, Shingai Chiwanga, Gerald Sibanda, Wes Mbanje, Tafadzwa Chitokwindo, Gardner Nechironga