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Mehluli Sibanda, Senior Sports Reporter
AS they head off to the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series qualifier in Hong Kong, Zimbabwe national sevens rugby team coach, Gilbert Nyamutsamba is under no false impression in terms of expectations with the best he is hoping for being reaching the semi-finals.
The Cheetahs head off to Hong Kong today and with other countries they will be competing against having invested heavily in their shorter format of the game, Nyamutsamba is satisfied with a place in the last four.
In 2018, Zimbabwe went as far as the quarter-finals of the qualifier and Nyamutsamba feels that if things work in their favour, they can go a step further and make it to the semis.
“Last year we made the quarter-finals, this year if all goes our way, a semi-final result will be satisfactory, we are not going to Hong Kong under an illusion of winning the tournament, Germany, Ireland, Russia, are teams that have put in work and resources in their sevens campaign, we are playing catch up to these teams,’’ Nyamutsamba said.
The Cheetahs were in action in the Kwese Invitational Sevens played at Harare Sports Club where they were beaten 19-14 by Georgia. Before that, they had last tasted action in December when they took part in the South Africa leg of the HSBC World Sevens Series in Cape Town.
From the team which took part in the Kwese Sevens, Nelson Madida, Kudzai Mashawi as well as Takudzwa Kumadiro have been dropped. Their places have been taken by Germany-based Tafadzwa Chitokwindo, the South Africa domiciled duo of Tapiwa Tsomondo and Riaan O’Neill.
Zimbabwe have for years been trying to become part of the HSBC World Sevens Series without success due to lack of sponsorship which has seen the team’s preparations being inadequate compared to the countries they get to compete against ion Hong Kong.
The Cheetahs will play Tonga and Hong Kong on Friday before they tackle Philippines the following day.
Cheetahs squad for Hong Kong:
Godfrey Muzanargwo, Brian Nyaude, Boyd Rouse, Shingirai Katsvere, Tapiwa Tsomondo, Stephan Hunduza, Riaan O’Neill, Brandon Mandivenga, Andrea Banda, Kudakwashe Chiwanza, Tafadzwa Chitokwindo, Stephan Hunduza.
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