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Paul Munyuki Sports Reporter
ZIMBABWE might have lost all but one of their games in the Middleburg International Sevens Rugby tournament in South Africa last weekend, but coach Gilbert “Gidza” Nyamutsamba believes this gave him a bigger picture of the future.
The Cheetahs lost all their opening games on day one with three straight defeats at the hands of Wales, South Africa and a select side, Living Ball, on Friday, but started with a win on Saturday in the Cup quarter-finals.
It was only in the Cup quarter-finals that they registered a 26-0 win over the Blue Bulls, but Nyamutsamba’s charges were not able to stand up against eventual winners Wales again in the semi-finals, suffering a 26-14 loss.
But for Nyamutsamba, who fielded a new-look Sables side that was largely dominated by junior and rookie players, it was not largely about results, instead it was a chance for him to see how the new and young players would play in difficult circumstances.
With most of the players that travelled to Moscow, Russia, for the World Cup in June out, veteran Fortune Chipendu was named captain as most of the players are set to retire and move into coaching, fitness strength and conditioning roles.
In the group stages, Zimbabwe had lost 19-20 to Wales after surrendering a 12-10 half-time lead.
Wales eventually went on to win the tournament with a 21-14 win over Springboks Sevens.
However, Nyamutsamba said inasmuch as he might have wanted to win the tournament, it was more about player development and giving game time to rookies and junior players.
“It would have been wonderful of course going back with a silverware, but at the same time we have to remember that most of the players we brought here were our junior players and we had to give them game time.
“Striking a balance between winning the tournament, fielding experienced players and bringing in the rookies was always going to be more difficult because of the number of developing players we have.
“That is why we come for such a tournament so that we experiment and see how our developing players perform against these big teams because if we do not give them game time at such tournaments then there is nowhere they can play,” said Nyamutsamba.
At the tournament, the Cheetahs fielded a rather largely inexperienced side after captain Jacques Leitao, playmaker Daniel Hondo (retired), Mike Morris, Garth Ziegler and Tangai Nemadire were dropped.
Nemadire was captain of the developmental side, the Goshawks, while Hondo was in charge of the Goshawks as captain as he starts preparing for life off the field and into the technical structures.
“We have to look at the bigger picture here which is that there are a number of players that are looking at retiring from the game and they have to make a living after playing as well, we have to build a bigger player pool and a bigger player base means more coaches are needed.
“So we are not only looking at developing players here and that is why Daniel (Hondo) is coaching the Goshawks. It is one of our plans that we have to start enrolling these players and former players as coaches.
“Fortune Chipendu is one other player and is involved with Mabvuku and in Bulawayo we have Reuben Kumpasa (Mat’land Warriors player/coach) because the more coaches we have the better it is for the development of the game.”
Nyamutsamba also hinted that they are looking at having an academy side to take part at the Spar International Sevens tournament next year as was the case with Mbare Academy who conquered all the schools, including Prince Edward, Churchill and St Johns College, to win the junior edition.
As such, Nyamutsamba is working with teams in Bulawayo that they also come up with a similar side from the southern part of the country and this — like Mbare — will only be comprised of players from the less priviledged schools.
“We are also planning on having two developmental sides play at the Spar International Sevens next March, each from Harare and Bulawayo and the developmental sides will be made up of the less privileged schools.”
Online Reporter