Lady Cheetahs shift focus

AFTER conquering the Southern African region, Zimbabwe women’s Sevens rugby side have now turned their attention to the Africa Cup.

Their coach Derek Chiwara is a man who has been left with a lot on his mind as he must get his charges to put behind the euphoria that greeted Zimbabwe’s flawless performance in Lesotho.

He spent the better part of last week trying to get his players back into the right frame of mind and focus on an even bigger assignment that lies ahead.

Fitness and game management were the order of the day as the Lady Cheetahs returned to the training field.

And, by his own admission, Chiwara has been scouring the internet for footage, tips and insight into the teams his side could face at the Africa Cup tournament.

There are also a few injury worries, while Cape Town Sevens competition is around the corner as it is slated for month-end.

Still, through it all, the former Old Georgians coach remains confident of yet another solid outing at in Tunisia in July.

“I can safely say that the euphoria of our trip to Lesotho has died down now within the team and we haven’t really seen the need to talk to the girls as a technical team. “We have kind of reset the button. “What we have been working on now is focusing on the challenges that lie ahead,” he said.

While a Sevens tournament in Cape Town at the end of the month looks to be the next stop, Chiwara refuses to think of anything other than the Africa Cup.

In fact, the former Sables team manager is targeting a top-four finish at the Africa Cup and has already started looking into the biggest threats to that goal.

Uganda, Madagascar, Tunisia and, of course, South Africa are the main teams that stand between the Lady Cheetahs and their dreams.

“It’s no secret that the biggest task for us is to make sure that we finish on a high in Tunisia, and that to me is a top-four finish,” he said.

“We have already started working on areas that we struggled to execute in Lesotho, as bigger and better teams are waiting for us in the next round.

“Most of these teams are more tactical and technical than the opposition we faced in Lesotho and we have to be ready for that.”

The main focus has been on the so-called top teams that have already been to the Africa Cup and have more experience at such a big stage.

These include teams like Uganda, Madagascar and Tunisia.

South Africa, by virtue of being hosts, have already qualified for the Sevens World Cup.

However, they are likely to give Chiwara and his charges a taste of what is to come when the two nations meet at the Cape Town tournament.

Zimbabwe and South Africa are understood to be the only national teams confirmed for the event so far, with the tournament mostly attracting some provincial sides.

The Lady Cheetahs are likely to be without the trio of Carol Malenga, Ruvimbo Musere and Faith Mhungira in Cape Town as they are nursing injuries.