The Sunday News
Senior Sports Reporter
THE Zimbabwe national Sevens rugby side, the Cheetahs have intensified preparations for the Confederation of African Rugby Africa Cup Sevens set for the end of the month in Harare.A provisional squad was expected to be announced by late yesterday.
Cheetahs coach Gilbert Nyamutsamba disclosed that the plan was to name a provisional squad of 24 players at the finals of the Summer Series which concluded at Old Georgians Sports Cub in Harare yesterday. The squad will comprise both local and foreign based players who will subsequently play a match at the weekend to determine the final squad of 16.
The final squad goes into camp next week on Monday for the tournament set for 29 to 30 November at Prince Edward High School.
“The plan is at the end of this weekend, we will announce players that will together with foreign based players (total 24) come together on Saturday the 22nd where the Possibles and Probables game will be played. After that weekend we will announce a camp squad of 16 players,’’ said Nyamutsamba.
Among the foreign contingent are Gardner Nechironga, Njabulo Ndlovu, Lenience Tambwera, Biselele Tshamala, Shayne Makombe, Tapiwa Tsomondo, Sean Chigumbura, (all based in South Africa) as well as Tafadzwa Chitokwindo and Tawanda Chowe who have just returned from a trial stint with a German club.
There could be call ups for Scotland based Gerald Sibanda and Manasah Sita from Germany. The two players have not turned out for the Cheetahs for a number of years but Nyamutsamba is keen on the pair for their experience.
Sevens rugby stalwart Wesley Mbanje of Raiders Rugby Club in Johannesburg, South Africa has been in Zimbabwe for a while where he has turned out for his former club Old Miltonians and could be drafted into the Cheetahs if Nyamutsamba feels that the seasoned player still has something to offer.
Zimbabwe has been drawn up to play against Kenya, Tunisia, Cote d’Ivoire, Nigeria, Namibia and Uganda at the 12 team tournament which also features powerhouses South Africa.
The event is going to be used as a qualifier for the Hong Kong Sevens in March next year which itself serves as qualifier for the International Rugby Board World Sevens Series core membership status for next season. With South Africa and Kenya already IRB World Sevens Series full members, Zimbabwe just have to book a place in the last four of the Africa Cup to qualify for Hong Kong.
