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Mehluli Sibanda
Senior Sports Reporter
ZIMBABWE senior national men’s sevens rugby team coach, Daniel Hondo, has resigned from his position.
Hondo’s resignation, on Saturday, came just two weeks after he guided the team to fifth place, at the Tokyo Olympics Men’s Rugby Sevens final qualifier, in Monaco.
The Monaco tournament was his only international assignment, since he was appointed Cheetahs head coach, in November last year.
As was reported by this publication, ahead of that qualifier, all was not well in the Cheetahs camp.
Hondo is said to have even informed the players he was ready to throw in the towel, before the trip to Monaco, because he did not have a lot of influence, in the running of the team.
Senior players like skipper Stephan Hunduza were dropped.
There was a feeling, among senior players, that the Zambia-based Hunduza had been degraded, with his axing unjustifiable, ahead of such a crucial assignment.
Body Rouse captained Zimbabwe as the Cheetahs tried, without success, to qualify for the Olympics.
Some senior players are said to have withdrawn from the squad in solidarity with Hunduza.
Some also wrote a letter to the Zimbabwe Sevens technical team, to express their reservations, over what they felt were unjust practices, ahead of the Monaco assignment.
The players made it clear they were not seeking to influence team selection but were not pleased by the lack of transparency, from the team management, in their decision-making. Zimbabwe Rugby Union media and communication manager, Simbarashe Dangah, on June 17, said there were no problems in the team, ahead of the Olympics qualifier.
He even claimed the absence of senior players was because they were asked to choose between the two national teams, the Cheetahs and Sables.
It turns out players were not asked to make any choice since backline players, Shingirai Katsvere and Martin Mangongo, who were part of the Cheetahs squad that travelled to Monaco, are also in the Sables final team for the Rugby Africa Cup Pool D matches, which were meant to take place in Tunisia from July 9-17.
The matches have been cancelled due to rising Covid-19 cases in the North African country.
According to sources, Hondo bade farewell to his players on Saturday and informed them he was exiting all Cheetahs social media groups.
He is said to have cited not being in the “right frame of mind” to lead the team but informed the players he would remain available, to give them a helping hand, should they require any assistance from him.
The ZRU confirmed Hondo had resigned from his post.
Graham Kaulback, who was Hondo’s assistant, has now assumed head coach duties with a substantive appointment to be made soon.
“Hondo cited personal and work commitments as the main reason for his resignation,” said the ZRU.
It is the second time Hondo has taken charge of the Cheetahs, since he retired from representing his country, in sevens and fifteens versions, of the game.
In Monaco, Zimbabwe beat Mexico and Tonga but lost to Ireland as well as Tonga, to finish third, in their pool.
They finished fifth overall out of nine teams.
Online Reporter