admindays while he was supposed to have joined the Zimbabwe side in Scotland, Nechironga could not travel as his passport had not yet been delivered following his visa application.
However, yesterday Cheetahs’ manager Bruce Hobson confirmed that Nechironga had arrived in Scotland for the penultimate leg of the Sevens World Series that Zimbabwe were invited to take part in.
“Gardner has finally received his passport with the visa on it so we expect him in today (yesterday),” said the former Zimbabwe Rugby Union president.
The Cheetahs are in Pool C of the 16-team tournament where they have been drawn against Fiji, Portugal and Argentina and they believe that the can put up a competitive display in the two-day tournament.
Today, Zimbabwe open their quest for glory with a date against Fiji in the fourth game of the tournament before they face off Argentina and finish their first round games against Portugal.
Nyamutsamba has fair knowledge against his opposition having previously drawn and beaten World Cup finalists Argentina.
However, the Cheetahs have only one silverware from the three tournaments they have take part in so far this season after falling in Hong Kong, winning the Bowl in South Africa after also failing in Dubai.
“We are here to compete, it’s getting to the end of the season and we want to show that we deserve to be playing with the higher end teams.
“We’ve been in training camp already for two weeks now in Zimbabwe, so we hope to gel well,” Cheetahs centre Wesley Mbanje told irb.com.
In Pool C, Zimbabwe are the only none core members having failed to attain that status in the Asian leg of the World Series.
Portugal eventually qualified.
“Jacques did not travel with us having been blessed by a new baby in the family and he also has pressing work commitments and this is one of the reasons we have opted to travel with an extra gas man.
“The last time (in Hong Kong) we travelled with six forwards but Njabulo (Ndlovu) got injured in the early stages of the tournament, good for us he has recovered now so Wes (Mbanje) will give running time to Kilvan.
“There is no easy tournament on the series and what even makes this one more difficult is that it is a back-to-back tournament with the London leg so there is a lot of physical and mental fitness required,” said the former XVs Under-21 manager.
Cheetahs Squad:
Fortune Chipendu, Njabulo Ndlovu,Justin Coles, , Mike Morris, Tangai Nemadire, Graham Kaulback, Daniel Hondo, Gerald Sibanda, Gardner Nechironga, Wes Mbanje, Kilvan Magunje, James Forrester.
Coach: Gilbert Nyamutsamba
Manager: Bruce Hobson
Online Reporter