adminPaul Munyuki Sports Reporter
LIAM Middleton seems to have won his battle after the Zimbabwe Rugby Union gave him the greenlight ahead to lead the Cheetahs at the Hong Kong leg of the World Sevens Series.
Last week Middleton, who is the ZRU director of rugby, declared that he had assumed the duty of Cheetahs coach, toppling Gilbert “Gidza” Nyamutsamba.
ZRU president John Falkenberg insists that Nyamutsamba is still the Cheetahs coach but Middleton, who had the backing of vice-president Colleen de Jong, will, however, take charge of the side.
Middleton was in charge of the team over the past week as Nyamutsamba awaited clarification on his status.
But a meeting that was held early this week came up without any resolution leaving the Bulawayo businessman with no time to prepare the side.
And yesterday, Middleton named his travelling 12 who will do duty for the nation in Hong Kong where they have been drawn in Pool E of the qualifier tournament where they face Russia, Barbados, and Chile in the opening round.
From the side that played at last week’s Zimbabwe invitational tournament, Harare Sports Club versatile backliner Tangai “Too Bad” Nemadire was dropped for Hilton Mudariki who played for the Goshawks during the same tournament.
But that Benjamin Nicholls managed to survive the chop came as a shock given his poor play at last weekend’s tournament while Fortune Chipendu’s survival in the side was also questionable.
The side is a largely a representation of the future of Zimbabwe Sevens as there are quite a number of young players that have the potential to do very well.
Lenience Tambwera, Stephan Hunduza, Biselele Tshamala and Mudariki are some of the young players who impressed at last weekend’s tournament and have been given the green light to play at what is largely their biggest tournament so far.
Blended with the experience of the likes of captain and Old Georgians forward Jacques Leitao, Njabulo Ndlovu, and the composure of Tafadzwa Chitokwindo and Gardner Nechironga, the side has a fair chance of winning the tournament.
The Zimbabwe Sevens side is expected to leave tomorrow for the tournament that is also serving as the core-member qualifiers and the Cheetahs need to finish tops in the second-tier competition if they are to become a core member.
The Cheetahs are under pressure to perform given that under Nyamutsamba last year, they won the tournament.
Hong Kong were drawn in Pool F and face matches against Italy, African qualifier Tunisia and the second of the Oceania qualifiers, Samoa.
The other Asian heavyweight in the draw, Japan, starts top seed in Pool G and face the Cook Islands, Uruguay and Trinidad and Tobago.
Cheetahs Squad
Biselele Tshamala, Jacques Leitao (captain), Jabulo Ndlovu, Stephen Hunduza, Lenience Tambwera, Hilton Mudariki, Tafadzwa Chitokwindo, Fortunate Chipendu, Boyd Rouse, Kilvan Magunje, Benjamin Nichols, Gardner Nechironga.
Qualifier Draw
Pool E: Russia, Zimbabwe, Chile, Barbados
Pool F: Hong Kong, Italy, Tunisia, American Samoa
Pool G: Japan, Cook Islands, Uruguay, Trinidad and Tobago
Online Reporter