adminPetros Kausiyo Deputy Sports Editor
ZIMBABWE Cheetahs have been handed a tough draw in their bid to secure core status at the HSBC World Series Sevens qualifiers in Hong Kong early next month. The Cheetahs were drawn into Pool F, which includes Germany, Papua New Guinea and hosts Hong Kong in the tournament scheduled for April 8-9.
Only the winners of the tournament qualify for the World Series.
More importantly, for Zimbabwe, the tournament could also provide a reality check on the state of preparedness for Gilbert Nyamutsamba’s men as it comes shortly after the Victoria Falls tournament, which, however, only has African opposition.
Unlike the Victoria Falls competition, the Hong Kong tournament has bigger and stronger opposition that also includes the likes of past winners Japan, Uruguay, Ireland and Georgia.
Team manager Donald Mangenje yesterday reckoned his side had been drawn in a “Group of Death’’.
Mangenje said the Cheetahs, who are expected to regroup on March 19 to prepare for their first tournament of the year – the Victoria Falls Sevens, on March 24-25 – would have to move mountains at the Hong Kong competition if they are to win the tourney.
The Cheetahs’ camp has been hit by poor preparations for the World Cup and subsequently the Hong Kong tournament and the team management are now hopeful that the Zimbabwe Rugby Union authorities will organise a training camp for them in South Africa, which could give them a chance to square off against global giants the Blitzboks.
Mangenje also gave his brief overview of the teams his Cheetahs will be up against in Hong Kong.
“PNG have played a few tournaments on the circuit with the big boys and have gained some massive experience. The Blitzboks actually struggled to beat them in Australia
“Germany have also been on the rise and have invested heavily in professionalising the sport. Hong Kong have also done the same and have greatly improved. It’s a pity they could not be part of Victoria Falls (Tournament) at the last minute,’’ Mangenje said.
Mangenje said although their preparations had not gone down according to the way they had hoped, they were looking to use the next two months to bring their plans back on track and acknowledged the significance of their tour of Hong Kong.
“Our preparations will only be the Vic Falls Tournament unfortunately.
“Well, the games in Hong Kong are important since we will only have two months to remedy the situation and we have to find a way to get a chance to train with the Blitzboks
“We are finalising a training squad this evening. It’s 40, but we want to trim it to about 32. We will use 24 in Vic Falls,’’ Mangenje said.
Despite the technical team still to finalise the squad, Mangenje revealed that they were also looking to fly in some of the Cheetahs’ foreign-based stars.
Although the Cheetahs are concerned about the tough opposition that awaits them in Hong Kong, the hosts admitted that none of the Pool F sides could be rated lowly.
In Hong Kong, Pools A to D will be made up of the core teams who will be battling for points on the series.
Series qualifiers draw:
Pool E: Japan, Uganda, Chile, Georgia
Pool F: Papua New Guinea, Germany, Hong Kong, Zimbabwe
Pool G: Ireland, Uruguay, Jamaica, Cook Islands
Online Reporter