Strong Cheetahs squad for Kampala
ZIMBABWE’S Cheetahs insist they will not underrate any of their opponents despite being favourites to win Pool B at the Africa Cup Sevens Rugby tournament in Kampala, Uganda, next weekend.
The Zambezi Cheetahs, seeking to reclaim core status on the international Sevens series, have named a strong squad ahead of their departure for Uganda on Tuesday night.
Zimbabwe have been drawn in Pool B where they will face Botswana, Mauritius, Madagascar and Senegal.
Despite wearing the favourites tag to progress from their pool and even go on to win the tournament, whose other group consists of Zambia, Tunisia, Ghana and the hosts, the Cheetahs are not taking anything for granted.
Zambezi Cheetahs team manager Donald Mangenje yesterday said although they were confident of their capabilities, they would not let any form of complacency creep into their heads.
Mangenje, who released the final squad for the Africa Cup, noted that the selection process had been a tough exercise for the technical crew lead by head coach Gilbert Nyamutsamba.
“We are leaving Tuesday night and we hope to have a farewell function, but I must say it (the selection) has been a process of looking at different players throughout and starting with the Victoria Falls tournament where we had three teams, then the Lusaka competition where we had two teams and Maseru one.
“It was a process of looking at all the playing resources we had at our disposal and it has been a tough exercise. Selection issues are never easy but it was a positive headache with players competing for positions in the squad . . . it was such a positive vibe,” Mangenje said.
It is no surprise then that the Zimbabwe coach included gifted Harare Sports Club winger Shingi Hlanguyo in the squad.
Speed, an eye for the gap, and nimble feet are just some of the characteristics that Nyamutsamba could not resist in picking Hlanguyo and the national coach described the winger as “a find of the year”.
“Young Shingi is the find of the year; he has natural speed and is still raw. He is one who will grow to become the star player of the squad in future.
“I get excited when I look at these new players as they bring in a new dimension to the seasoned players and that makes the team divers,” said Nyamutsamba.
“Forward Ngoni Chibuwe is a very physical player and gives us the speed we need in the forwards.
“Mkhululi (Ndhlela) will be one of the centres, he has the size and speed and gives us a different option of play from the centres we have had in the past.”
Nyamutsamba also underlined his mission.
“My main objective is to qualify for the World Cup and that would generate even more interest in the players to keep playing for us and also the corporate world joining and wanting to be part of a World Cupbound team,” he said. Zambezi Cheetahs Africa Cup Squad: Tapiwa Tsomondo, Njabulo Ndlovu, Lucky Sithole, Biselele Tshamala, Ngoni Chibuwe, Hilton Mudariki (captain), Scottie Jones, Shingi Hlanguyo, Mkhululi Ndhlela, Boyd Rouse, Stephan Hunduza, Nelson Madida. Coach: Gilbert Nyamutsamba Manager: Donald Mangenje