adminPeter Phiri Sports Correspondent
RUGBY coaches have thrown their weight behind the Zimbabwe Sevens Rugby team, the Cheetahs.
The Zimbabwe Sevens rugby team is in Russia for the World Cup and hopes are high back home that the team will fly the country’s flag high.
The Cheetahs are in Pool C and open their account in the Sevens World Cup campaign against a tricky Samoa side today.
Tomorrow they will square off with the Philippines and fellow African side Kenya in what coaches say is a fair pool.
Old Miltonians’ coach Theo Weale believes the Cheetahs stand a better chance because they are well prepared for the tournament.
Weale is however, wary of the threat posed by the Samoans who play a very physical game and rely on pace and power to overrun their opponents.
‘‘Our biggest test is against Samoa who play a very physical game to sweep past their opponents. If the Cheetahs lose concentration they can be punished and this means loss of points. The team however stand a good chance against Samoa if they play their cards right,’’ said Weale.
On the game against Kenya, Weale believes it is anyone’s game but tips the Cheetahs to prevail over their African opponents.
‘‘We are almost at par with Kenya but the Kenyans have put a little bit more in their game. However I don’t see them giving us problems. The Cheetahs and Kenya match is like a continental derby,’’ he said.
Much is not known about the Philippines which makes them equally dangerous because they can catch a lot of teams unaware but Weale believes the Philippines can present the Cheetahs with an easy victory.
‘‘I give the Philippines game to the Cheetahs because I am sensing an easy victory for the team. I am not underrating the Philippines, we respect them. But they don’t stand a chance against the Cheetahs. Above all, the guys need to fly not only the Zimbabwean but the African flag high as well,’’ he said.
Zvishavane Bulls technical manager Darlington Majoni thinks the Cheetahs can do better this time.
‘‘This time I believe the Cheetahs can do much better than the last World Cup. I hope they will reach the next stage after doing well in their group.
Samoa is the only team that can give the Cheetahs problems but we can beat Kenya. As for the Philippines, well we can walk over them without breaking sweat,’’ said Majoni.
Former Sables and Old Miltonians player Zivanai Dzinomurumbi who is back in the Old Miltonians technical team, believes the Cheetahs have done enough home work to salvage something in Russia.
‘‘The team has worked hard under a very experienced coach and I think they will post good results. We might have problems with Kenya who play a physical game which may unsettle the Cheetahs,’’ said Dzinomurumbi.
Kenya has done well in Sevens rugby, a fact that cannot be denied considering that they are a core member of World Sevens Rugby.
‘‘Kenya has managed to climb the ladder of Sevens rugby over the last couple of years. It is amazing how they have managed to leap frog us since we used to beat them. But we can beat Kenya and the Cheetahs have the players who can do the job on any day,’’ said Dzinomurumbi.
Players to look out for in the Cheetahs team are captain Jacques Leitao, Njabulo Ndlovu, Lucky Sithole, Gardner Nechironga, Fortune Chipendu, Jafet Ndebele, Tangai Nemadire and Wesley Mbanje.
Meanwhile, the Lion Lager National Rugby League continues tomorrow with a potentially explosive match pitting Old Miltonians and bitter rivals Matabeleland Warriors at Hartsfield Ground.
Old Miltonians and Matabeleland Warriors are separated by two points on the log standings and last week the former shocked leaders Old Georgians 24-21 at Hartsfield.
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