The Sunday News
Mehluli Sibanda, Senior Sports Reporter
ZIMBABWE national sevens rugby team coach, Gilbert Nyamutsamba is keen to have his players contracted in the months leading up to next year’s Sevens Rugby World Cup in San Francisco, United States of America.
Nyamutsamba recently led the Cheetahs to qualification for next year’s tournament when they finished second to Uganda in the Africa Cup in Kampala. Ahead of the 2013 World Cup held in Russia, sponsors came through to ensure all players trained together in Harare, something Nyamutsamba is hoping can be done for next year’s tournament.
“It is my wish that at least six months before the World Cup, we can sub contract players. We are looking at the corporate world, well wishers and Government to hopefully come on board and sponsor or contract the players.
Player welfare is among my top priorities that we have to recognise and appreciate the hard work, effort and sacrifice that players go through for love and pride of country therefore training and match incentives are a must if we are going to adequately prepare a team to compete on the world stage,’’ Nyamutsamba said.
He is convinced that Zimbabwe’s World Cup qualification has given the kiss of life to the game in the country with interest from the players, Government as well as the corporate world.
“Qualifying for World Cup as not only resuscitated our rugby but as also secured the future of the sport in that the qualification brings in more interest for players to play rugby, interest from the corporate world and also interest from Government. It is exciting and rewarding to myself and the players that the hard work and effort which was put in during the 10 months has resulted with such great interest to the game of rugby and to the nation as a whole,’’ he said.
The coach’s desire is to continue with the training plan before going a gear up in January prior to the World Rugby Sevens series core status qualifier in Hong Kong.
“The plan is to continue the training programme that we have been using in preparation for qualification, however, we will intensify our preparations mid January all the way to the Hong Kong tournament in April and all the way to the World Cup,’’ Nyamutsamba said.
Nyamutsamba has made it clear that those who secured the qualification are not guaranteed of going to USA. Players such as speedster Tafadzwa Chitokwindo, Gardner Nechironga as well as Shayne Makombe were not part of the team in Uganda and it should be interesting when they come into the mix.
“Going forward, our doors are still open to new players, but for now the focus will be on the 40 that we identified in the past 10 months. Competition will always be open and the best available players will always be considered in final decision.
“There are no positions guaranteed for any players, be it senior, long serving players, at the end of the day everyone has to fight for their position,’’ he said.
He believes that the key to World Cup qualification was down to his players who are eager to do their country proud.
“I’m just happy that we managed to put together a group of young, talented passion driven players who are willing to do all that they can and put their heart and soul in representing their nation and that is what got us to where we are now. Hard work definitely equates to success and I’m honoured to have led such a team,’’ he said.
Zimbabwe will be making their fifth appearance at the Sevens Rugby World Cup, having previously qualified for the tournament in 1997, 2001, 2009 and 2013.
