The Sunday News
Mehluli Sibanda, Senior Sports Reporter
THE Zimbabwe national sevens rugby team is heading off to South Africa early next month for a Rugby Africa solidarity camp in Stellenbosch, South Africa as part of preparations for the Tokyo Olympics final qualifying tournament to be held in Monaco in June.
Rugby Africa are sponsoring flights, accommodation and coronavirus testing for a delegation of 18. The men’s camp is running from 6-16 May with Zimbabwe, South Africa, Kenya and Uganda in attendance. South Africa and Kenya have qualified for the Tokyo Olympics while Zimbabwe together with Uganda are heading to Monaco for the last opportunity to qualify to be held on 19-20 June.
Uganda were beaten in the final by Kenya at the 2019 Rugby Africa Men’s Sevens held in South Africa while Zimbabwe took bronze at the same event.
Former Cheetahs vice-captain, Daniel Hondo is the coach of the country’s sevens rugby team and is assisted by another ex-player, Graham Kaulback. John Ewing is the team manager while Maggie Gibson is the physiotherapist.
Sifiso Made, the Zimbabwe Rugby Union chief executive officer said they have applied to the Government, through the Sports and Recreation Commission for permission to send the Cheetahs to South Africa.
“We have applied for the men’s sevens to travel to South Africa, we are waiting for a response from the SRC,’’ said Made.
So far, the senior men’s fifteens and Junior men Under-20 have been given the green light to resume training.
The women national fifteens team has games lined up in July/August. According to Made, coaches yesterday embarked on the process of testing the skills levels for the players to ensure that they are ready.
ZRU have also asked the provinces on how they want to go about their respective leagues, with each club required to stick to stipulated Covid-19 regulations. — @Mdawini_29.
