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Paul Munyuki Sports Reporter
ZIMBABWE Sevens coach Gilbert Nyamutsamba has made three changes to his squad as the Cheetahs prepare to bounce back to international action for the first time in three months.The Cheetahs will host a rare international invitational tournament at Harare Sports Club on Friday and Saturday which will also include teams from Russia, Georgia, Hong Kong and South Africa.
Since taking part in the Port Elizabeth leg of the World Sevens Series at the end of last year, the Cheetahs have been inactive but will be back onto the playing field this Saturday.
Georgia were the first side to arrive for the two-day event when they touched down at the Harare International Airport yesterday evening, Hong Kong are expected tomorrow while South Africa and Russia are scheduled to arrive midday on Thursday.
Nyamutsamba, who is hoping his charges will make an impression on home soil, made three changes to the side that last played in Port Elizabeth and included captain and forward Jacques Leitao, gas man Stephan Hunduza and debutant Benjamin Nichols who is based in the United States.
The trio replaces Tapiwa Tsomondo, Hilton Mudariki and Brandon Boshi.
Mudariki and Boshi made their Cheetahs debut in Port Elizabeth but with the more experienced pair of Leitao and Hunduza returning, they have had to make way.
Nichols — son to former Sables flanker Alex Nichols – is the only new name in the team as he has been in America where he also had a chance of being in the Eagles Sevens Academy and the selectors saw it fit to hand him his first tournament this weekend.
However, Nyamutsamba yesterday indicated that Njabulo Ndlovu’s availability is still under a cloud of doubt as he has some educational commitments in South Africa.
The Cheetahs will also not go into camp because of financial constraints.
“There might be some changes because we will only know if Njabulo is available as the week progresses because he has academic commitments but he hinted that he might be available.
“Tshamala (Biselele) should be in by Wednesday and we should group up as a team on Thursday because the players in Harare are under Liam (Middleton, director of coaching) and I am in charge of the Bulawayo based players.
“It would have been much better if we had a much longer training session before going to Hong Kong but I guess we need the camp more when we get closer to Hong Kong than our own tournament and we have to do with the available resources,” said Nyamutsamba.
The former Cheetahs and Sables winger believes that the selection tournament that was held at the weekend proved that there is an improvement especially for the players that are undergoing strength and conditioning.
“There was a slight improvement owing to the fact that most of the players are making use of the high performance centre, they have improved on strength and conditioning an area that we have always wanted to improve on especially against more professional sides,” said Nyamutsamba.
Mudariki and Boshi have been relegated to the Goshawks side that also includes the likes of Lucky Sithole, Japhet Ndebele, and Lloyd Muchanjaira, who have all played for the Cheetahs before.
“These may not be the final squads for the side that will travel to Hong Kong for the Word Series core membership qualifiers because some players might impress during the local Sevens and they have to be given a chance,” said Nyamutsamba.
Zimbabwe Squads:
Cheetahs: Biselele Tshamala, Jacques Leitao (captain), Njabulo Ndlovu, Stephen Hunduza, Lenience Tambwera, Tangai Nemadire, Tafadzwa Chitokwindo, Fortunate Chipendu, Boyd Rouse, Kilvan Magunje, Benjamin Nichols, Gardner Nechironga.
Goshawks: Lucky Sithole, Farai Jijita, Takudzwa Kumadiro, Tadius Whata, Hilton Mudairiki (captain), Kuda Makwasha, Brandon Boshi, Japhet Ndebele, Riaan O’Neill, Craig Elcombe, Lloyd Muchanjaira, Brian Dube.
Online Reporter