Gidza praises Cheetahs
ZIMBABWE coach Gilbert Nyamutsamba has praised the spirits of his Cheetahs, which he believes is just the tonic they needed ahead of their first competitive tournament of the year — the Victoria Falls Sevens at the weekend.
The Cheetahs will be the defending champions at the tournament scheduled for Saturday and Sunday in the tourist resort town.
Nyamutsamba’s men re-assembled on Monday. “The spirit in the camp is high, the guys are excited. We also have some first-timers who have graduated from our Under-20 ranks and they are equally excited to be part of the Cheetahs family.
“The good thing I like about these players is that whenever I ask for a task to be done they come prepared for it and at times it is us in the management who then let them down.
“The players’ call-up is a process we started in January of extending the player base. There are some new players we are willing to give a try and I can assure the nation that after some of these Under-20 players are given a few more seasons, they will be the bedrock of the Sevens,’’ Nyamutsamba said.
Among the new faces who have been training twice a day at Innovate Gym are Australia-based hooker Connor Pritchard, wing Ziyanda Kupe of Raiders in South Africa, Durban Collegians centre Brendon Mandivenga and Aiden Burnett, who two years ago led Zimbabwe’s Craven Week side and is now plying his trade at Hartpury College in the United Kingdom.
“The only unfortunate thing is that I would have liked to see most of the new guys in more tournaments before the Hong Kong and the World Cup competitions but as usual we are going to do the best we can with what we have,’’ Nyamutsamba said.
“We go to Victoria falls as the defending champions and every team that comes there is going to aim to beat the champions.
Cheetahs Squad: Tapiwa Tsomondo (Boland, Cape Town); Biselele Tshamala- (College Rovers, Durban) Njabulo Ndlovu (UWC, Cape Town); Mkhululi Ndhlela (Tuks, Pretoria), Hilton Mudariki (Pirates Joburg) Boyd Rouse (Bury St. Edmunds, UK); Stephan Hunduza (Diggers, Zambia); Shayne Makombe (FC Compeignon, France); Tafadzwa Chitokwindo (TV Pfozheim, Germany);
Riaan O’Neil (False Bay, Cape Town); Connor Pritchard (Griffith University, Australia); Gardner Nechironga (Raiders, SA); Aiden Burnett (Hartpury College, UK); Romario Abrahams (Maties, Stellenbosch, SA); Leon Ndhlovu- Griquas, SA); Tristan Moses- (UJ, SA); Matthew McNab (Hartpury College, UK); Mazvita Nyamarebvu (Blue Bulls Academy, SA); Godfrey Mangenje (France); Brendon Mandivenga (Durban Collegians), Ziyanda Kupe (Raiders, SA); Kuziva Kazembe (Hamiltons, SA); Ngoni Chibuwe (Old Georgians); Lucky Sithole (Harare Sports Club); Nelson Madida (Matabeleland Warriors); Takudzwa Fransisco (Harare Sports Club); Tarisai Mugariri (Matabeleland Warriors); Takudzwa Kumadiro (Old Georgians); Lenience Tamberwa (Old Georgians); Mark Kidson (Unattached) ; Innocent Nyatsanza (Police Defenders); Gideon Muyambo (Mutare Sports Club); Joshua Gando (Old Hararians); Walter Gode (Matabeleland Warriors); Kilvan Magunje (Gweru Sports Club); Emmanuel Zangari (Matabeleland Warriors); Tafadzwa Bunu (Unattached); Julian Tafireyi (Unattached) Shingi Katsvere (Old Georgians); Jack Charsley (Unattached); Kuda Chiwanza (Old Georgians).