‘Cheetahs ready to fight’

ZIMBABWE coach Gilbert Nyamutsamba has acknowledged his charges face an onerous task in their opening assignment against Tonga at the Hong Kong rugby Sevens tournament today, but believes the Cheetahs are ready to fight for qualification back into the World Series.

The Cheetahs flew into Hong Kong late on Monday night and were joined by some of their foreign-based stars who include German-based Tafadzwa Chitokwindo and Tapiwa Tsomondo from Cape Town over the following two days.

After having his full squad training on Wednesday and Thursday, Nyamutsamba said the reigning African champions were primed for the challenges they will face from their pool rivals who include hosts Hong Kong and Philippines with the Cheetahs coach initially targeting a top two finish from the group and with it a place in the quarter-finals.

“The tournament starts Friday (today) and our first game is against Tonga. Tonga have been playing very well and rated the first in our pool. They are a very physical team and it is going to be a tough one but we have done all that we can to prepare and to train for them.

“Hong Kong is always a difficult team to play against . . . their team is made up of mainly expatriates, they can call upon their ex-pats to play for the team so it very difficult to read because you never get to know which of the players will be playing,’’ Nyamutsamba said.

Nyamutsamba also noted that Philippines would be an unpredictable opponent given that they are relative newcomers to this version of rugby.

“Philippines is not very known on the Sevens circuit. We just have to strategies after watching them play and their first game against Hong Kong.

“It is our target to come first in our pool or at least second and by so doing qualify for the quarter-finals we take it up from there,’’ Nyamutsamba said.

The Cheetahs whose biggest undoing is lack of resources had their spirits lifted by the Hong Kong community who raised some funds that were donated to the team ahead of the start of the tourney, being run alongside the World series.

According to reports from Hong Kong, some Hong Kong rugby fans have rallied round to raise some funds and donated boots to the players.

“Zimbabwe’s not doing well economically and we’ve been struggling ever since. The big problem is getting money out of Zimbabwe,” veteran Chitokwindo said.

“The (Zimbabwe Rugby) union cannot buy players tickets to fly in or fly wherever they have to go. So it’s always been a challenge to get everyone in one place and to train as a team.

“Every time we have to meet at a tournament and train together instead of meeting at home . . . so it’s always been a big challenge so far,’’ Chitokwindo said”

“We always find a visit to Hong Kong a very interesting one and it’s always a helpful one in that we get welcomed by the Hong Kong community,’’ Nyamutsamba said.

“They do lots of charity work for us, they raise funds for us so that we can also be able to get extra kit, and a little something for the boys.”

This year a group of supporters raised HK$45 000 (US$5 800) to help cover the players’ expenses during the competition, held alongside the famous Hong Kong Sevens.

“They’re blown away by the support,” said Andrew Tasker, who organised the fundraiser and owns sportswear company Impact Prowear, the team’s supplier.

Ahead of the tournament, the Cheetahs are excited about the chance of a spot on next year’s world series, but realise competition will be tough.

“We’re obviously going to take each game as it comes. We haven’t come here under the illusion of just winning it easily,” said Nyamutsamba.

“This year getting to the semi-finals would be good for us. But you never know, with a game of sevens we might find ourselves in the finals and the ball bouncing our way and winning it,’’ Nyamutsamba said.

Tapiwa Tsomondo, Godfrey Muzanargwo, Boyd Rouse, Kuda Chiwanza, Brian Nyaude, Shingi Katsvere, Tafadzwa Chitokwindo, Biselele Tshamala, Andrea Banda, Brendon Mandivenga, Stephan Hunduza, Riaan O’Neill, Takudzwa Kumadiro