The Sunday News
ZIMBABWE have been drawn to play against Nigeria today in the quarter-finals of the Rugby Africa Sevens Olympic qualifier after they finished second overall to Kenya on the first day’s action at the Barnard Stadium in Johannesburg yesterday.
The Jacques Leitao-captained Cheetahs put up an impressive display as they were victorious in all their three pool matches, a 31-12 triumph over Nigeria, a 48-0 routing of Zambia and 43-0 over Uganda. This, however, proved not enough for Daniel Hondo’s men to finish as the highest ranked team on the first day. Kenya, led by Andrew Omonde were even more imposing with a 50-5 drubbing of Mauritius, Senegal 26-0, before defeating Madagascar 46-0. Kenya will meet Madagascar for a place a in the semi-finals.
In the other Cup quarter-final fixtures set for today, Namibia go up against Morocco while Uganda have a date with Tunisia.
Against Nigeria, Zimbabwe got their first try 39 seconds into the match from Tafadzwa Chitokwindo only for Boyd Rous to miss the conversion. Nigeria replied with a try in the fourth minute by Ayominde Mogaji whose conversion kick was missed. Chitokwindo picked up his second try gathering a grubber kick from Riaan O’Neil.
Zimbabwe’s third try came in the first minute of the second half, Rouse going over on the left corner. Nigeria had their second try in the third minute of the second half, Christian Ogar benefitted from a brilliant move by Onoru Jatto. Manasah Sita, back in the Cheetahs side after three years made the game look so easy, slicing through the Nigerian defence with simplicity to score Zimbabwe’s fourth try of the game with Graham Kaulback weighing in with the conversion kick.
Tapiwa Tsomondo delivered the fifth try for the Cheetahs which was successfully converted by Lenience Tambwera.
Against Zambia, Zimbabwe struggled to stamp their authority at the beginning of match, the first try coming from O’Neill who was put through by Chitokwindo with Tambwera’s conversion making it 7-0 to the Cheetahs. Chitokwindo again turned provider to O’Neill for an unconverted try. A minute to go before halftime, Chitokwindo burnt the Zambian defence on the wing to score the third try with Tambwera’s conversion making it 19-0 to Zimbabwe.
Stephan Hunduza picked up Zimbabwe’s fourth try just before the break for a Cheetahs 24-0 lead at half-time.
Soon after the break Zimbabwe did not put the foot off pedal, Njabulo Ndlovu sending skipper Leitao for the fifth try.
Tambwera’s conversion took the score to 31-0. O’Neill delivered the sixth try of the match for the Cheetahs after some fine work by Chitokwindo, the kick making it 38-0. Ndlovu came up with the seventh try two minutes before the end followed by another effort from Tsomondo.
In the last pool encounter for the Cheetahs, Chitokwindo opened the scoring, his effort complemented by Stephan Hunduza before Chitokwindo went over the whitewash again. Tambwera was on target with two of the conversions for a 19-0 Zimbabwean lead at the break.
The winner of the 12-team tournament will qualify for the Olympic Games while the second, third and fourth-placed teams will get one final shot at qualification through the 16-team global repechage tournament next year.
Meanwhile, the Cheetahs are enjoying backing from the country’s highest representative in South Africa as Isaac Moyo, the Zimbabwean Ambassador in the neigbouring country was at the tournament venue yesterday and will be in the attendance again today.
