What next for Cheetahs?

22 Nov, 2015 - 00:11 0 Views
What next for Cheetahs? Cheetahs squad at Olympic qualifiers

The Sunday News

Cheetahs squad at Olympic qualifiers

Cheetahs squad at Olympic qualifiers

Mehluli Sibanda, Senior Sports Reporter
THE Zimbabwe national sevens rugby team the Cheetahs came within seconds from booking a spot at next year’s Summer Olympics before Kenya killed off that dream with a last gasp 21-17 triumph at a Rugby Africa Olympic Qualifier final match at Barnard Stadium in Johannesburg, South Africa last weekend.

With the buzzer having gone off to signal the end of the match with the Cheetahs leading 17-14, Dennis Ombachi became hero for Kenya as he burst through to secure Shujaa a spot in Rio de Janeiro.

It was a match in which the Jacques Leitao captained Zimbabwe team had completely dominated and should have won had it not been for the lapse in concentration right at the end. It was an incredible final which could have gone either way but Zimbabwe will be convinced this was their best ever opportunity to conquer Kenya.

Despite Zimbabwe’s dominance, Kenya were the first to score when skipper Andrew Amonde fought off the challenge of Njabulo Ndlovu to plant the ball over the line, and Eden Agero converted to put the East Africans 7-0 up.

Zimbabwe were not going to easily give up, their most outstanding player at the tournament Tafadzwa Chitokwindo brought the first try from a huge overlap on the right.

Moments later, Riaan O’Neill showed great bravery in taking on the Kenyan defence to score the second try, and the conversion was booted in by Lenience Tambwera for the Cheetahs 12-7 lead heading into the break.

Kenya were to regain the lead soon after half-time, their star player Collins Injera outpacing the Zimbabwean defence to put the ball over the whitewash, a try which he went on to convert for Shujaa to lead 14-12.

Chitokwindo seemed to have won the game for Zimbabwe with a moment of pure individual brilliance, the wing intercepting a Kenyan pass in his own half and ran all the way to score. However, despite Tambwera failing to slot in the conversion, the Cheetahs appeared to have the match in the bag.

As Graham Kaulback prepared to take the kickoff, the siren sounded to signal the end of the match but the kick had to be executed. Kaulback kicked the ball deep into the Kenya 22 metre area hoping to keep the Kenyans in their own half. Kenya kept the ball alive, one or two passes later the ball was in the hands of Ombachi who gave Chitokwindo a hand off which left the wing on the ground, with Kilvan Magunje giving chase, Ombachi steered his way through to deliver the third try for his team to send Kenya to the Olympics.

What did not help the Cheetahs in those dying stages of the match was the fact that captain Leitao was off the field after being given a yellow by South African referee Rasta Rasivhenge for a deliberate knock on. This meant Zimbabwe had to defend with one man short against the determined Kenyans.

Soon as the final whistle went off, Zimbabwean players could be seen lying on the turf dejected at missing out on such a great opportunity.

The defeat by Kenya last Sunday was similar to the one the Cheetahs suffered at the World Series qualifier final in March this year in Hong Kong. The Cheetahs were in front against Russia only to let the Russians win it 22-19 when the buzzer had gone off to earn core membership status.

Zimbabwe, together with Morocco and Tunisia now head into a 16-team tournament to be held in June next year where only one country will seal the final Olympic qualifying slot. The line up of teams shows some of the best sevens rugby playing countries in the world who could not make it through last season’s Sevens World Series and the regional qualifiers, who have the ability to cause problems for the Cheetahs.

Canada, Spain, Russia and Samoa are the countries which could stand in the way of the Cheetahs and their quest of making it to Rio de Janeiro.

Hondo was of the view that the tournament went well apart from the last few minutes of the final. The former Cheetahs player was saddened by the loss as they came really close to qualifying for the Olympics.

“I think the tournament went well except the last minutes of the last game. It was really sad losing out knowing we were really close. I was pleased with the boys’ performance and hope we get the support we need. We will go back to the drawing board, we know repechage is a tough stage and with the teams there, it’s anyone’s tournament but it won’t be easy,’’ said Hondo.

Leitao who was voted the player of the tournament felt it would be hard to compete against the best in the world. However, he believed that although the repechage would be tough, it would provide them another opportunity to make it to the Olympics.

“It’s another chance to, no doubt harder, another great opportunity to book a spot in the Olympics. One thing is certain if we don’t get assistance in terms of nutrition, supplements and trying to professionalise the sport, it is always going to be hard to compete against professional teams. We as an amateur team manage to compete against the likes of Kenya who are professional, but we should push for professionalisation,’’ said Leitao.

The 33-year-old veteran of many sevens and fifteens rugby believes he still has a few years left in him in the international game and he will only call it a day when he stops making a meaningful contribution in the national teams.

“I think when I fail to make a positive influence in the team and games I will call it a day. The coaches and I are very open to that and will have no problem if they feel I am not contributing as well as any player would be able to and will happily step away,’’ Leitao said.

As the Cheetahs soak in defeat, wondering where they got it wrong against Kenya, they have to dust themselves and focus on the one more opportunity to book a spot at next year’s Olympic Games.

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