admincharge of the rugby Sevens side for the 2011/12 international season in the absence of coach Liam Middleton.
Nyamutsamba, who is tipped to take over from the England-based coach, has been in charge of the Cheetahs this year with Middleton unable to commit himself to the national side after being appointed coach of Bristol Rugby Club who are second on the Championship standings.
The former Watershed pupil has decided to focus on Bristol as he is aiming to make sure the side is promoted into the English top-flight.
Cheetahs’ manager Bruce Hobson yesterday said Nyamutsamba will be in charge in the International Rugby Board World Sevens Series.
“Gidza (Nyamutsamba) will be taking care of the Cheetahs in Dubai and Port Elizabeth as Middleton will not be available but it is our hope that when we travel to Edinburgh and London next year he (Middleton) would be available to the side more like a head of technical,” said the former Zimbabwe Rugby Union president.
With Middleton in England, Nyamutsamba has over the years been in charge of the Cheetahs on the African continent where they play in the South African tournaments, Middelburg and Rustenburg, the Kenya Sevens and the Castle Sevens in Zambia.
This will not be Nyamutsamba’s maiden dance as coach of the Cheetahs on the IRB circuit as he has done so in South Africa and Hong Kong.
However, this will be his first time taking full charge on all the international tournaments, both in Africa and overseas.
And Nyamutsamba is expected to get down to work on Monday when the Cheetahs troop into camp in Harare ahead of their departure for the IRB Sevens Series tournaments.
Captained by Old Georgians flanker Jacques Leitao, the side is set to take part in the back-to-back tournaments in Dubai in the first week of December before travelling to Port Elizabeth the following week.
Yesterday Hobson named a 19-man squad that will be in camp at Old Georgians for the whole of next week before the side is trimmed down to the final 12 next weekend.
Graham Kaulback, Mike Morris, Tafadzwa “Marubber” Chitokwindo and Jonathan McWade are expected on Tuesday from South Africa while England-based winger Justin Coles and Manasah Sita from Germany are expected to arrive on Monday.
South Africa-based lock Fortune Chipendu is already in the country together with Germany-based utility back Gardner Nechironga is expected to recover from injury he suffered at his base, while Tangai Nemadire bounces back to the squad, following sanctions from the mother body.
The squad also comprises of a number of rookies who travelled with the Cheetahs to Kenya for the Kenya Safaricom Sevens tournament.
They include the quartet of Simbarashe “Combat” Gonese, Lloyd Machanjaira, Kudakwashe Chiwanza, and Kalvin Magunje who donned the Cheetahs jersey for the first time in Nairobi.
Experience comes in the form of playmaker Daniel Hondo, Wesley Mbanje, Njabulo Ndlovu and captain Leitao.
Hobson added that the side will be training three times a day at Old Georgians but they will undergo a strength and conditioning practise on Monday before a fitness test at the Country Club gym on Tuesday.
“The schedule sees the side training three times every day, in the morning, afternoon and in the evening and we will also train on Saturday and on Sunday before we leave.
“But I am happy with the side, I expect that there will be a lot of competition for places in the side especially that we have some exciting young players coming up,” said Hobson.
Cheetahs Squad
Jacques Leitao (captain), Fortune Chipendu, Japhet Ndebele, Lloyd Machanjaira, Wes Mbanje, Mike Morris, Tangai Nemadire, Gerald Sibanda, Daniel Hondo, Justin Coles, Manasah Sita, Gardner Nechironga, Tafadzwa Chitokwindo, Kudakwashe Chiwanza, Simbarashe Gonese, Jonathan McWade, Njabulo Ndlovu, Kalvin Magunje, Graham Kaulback.
Online Reporter