Cheetahs prowl Mbare turf

at George Stark High School in Mbare where Germany based Manasa Sita was donating playing kit to Mbare Rugby Academy.
Under the guidance of assistant coach Gilbert “Gidza” Nyamutsamba, the Cheetahs held a training session for more than an hour in one of the oldest townships in the capital – moving away from their traditional Old Georgians Sports Club base in the leafy suburb of Groombridge.
Upon their arrival at the school, the national team played a touch game with the Mbare Academy Under-15 side – which is a collection of players from schools in Mbare before showing them some of the moves and tricks in the game.
Sita – a product of Mbare rugby himself – donated two sets of playing kit that he sourced from his team mates and club officials at Sports Club Neuneheim for both the Mbare Rugby Club and the Mbare Rugby Academy.
The kit included two sets of playing kit, balls, playing boots and scrum caps but according to the Cheetahs and Sables star, he only brought two kits as an expression of his gratitude to the community that raised him.
The Cheetahs are in camp preparing for the Hong Kong leg of the IRB Sevens Series and are expected to depart for the tournament on Sunday.
Sita, a former Old Georgians player said he still has a lot of kit for the teams that he left in Germany which he could not bring at once due to flight and logistical challenges.
“I feel so great giving back to the community that I grew up in. This is something I have always wanted to do for the young rugby players especially in Mbare so that they will also appreciate playing the game and I believe this will also motivate them.
“I managed to convince my club officials and players telling them of the situation back home and they felt that it was a worthy cause so they gave us kit and as displayed most of the things here are new showing how serious they were about the cause.
“But this is not all the kit that I managed to get because I left some back in Germany as I could not bring it all and I have to give special mention to South African Airways who also gave me an extra 23 kilogrammes of free luggage after we spoke to them about this.
“It is always good to remember where you come from and give back especially where you can and it is something that makes you feel responsible, its a great feeling trust me,” said Sita.
This is the first time that Sita has managed to bring kit for the Mbare community but he hopes together with his club that they will be able to make the event at least an annual occasion to make sure the teams are dressed every year.
“This is just the beginning and not the end because I am hopeful that we will continue with this every year and it will be much better if we are able to donate kit twice every year to make it much better,” he said.
However, this is not the first time that the Cheetahs are taking time off their busy schedule to be with the potential future stars in Mbare and yesterday they were also at Hellenic School where they were with the junior rugby players.
Cheetahs manager Bruce Hobson was grateful to Sita for his gesture which he felt would inspire kids in Mbare where the game plays second fiddle to football.
“It is great to see one of our own doing such a gesture and you can tell with the look on the faces of the young players and as the Cheetahs we would like to make it more like a tradition that we come here every time before a tour.
“Last year before we went on a tour we also came here and coming here at such times motivates the young boys because this is the national team coming to be with them,” said the former Zimbabwe Rugby Union president.
Cheetahs Squad:
Fortune Chipendo, Jacques Leitao (captain), Njabulo Ndlovu, Grant Mitchell, Manasa Sita, Justin Coles, Graham Kaulback, Tangai Nemadire, Shingai Chiwanga, Gerald Sibanda, Wes Mbanje, Tafadzwa Chitokwindo, Gardner Nechironga.
Coach: Liam Middleton
Assistant: Gilbert Nyamutsamba
Manager: Bruce Hobson