Third-Time Luck for the Cheetahs?

Perkins-Tino Bare

The Zimbabwe sevens` rugby team the Cheetahs got their battle this morning to a flying satart as they beat Guyana 36-0, as they seek that much coveted HSBC core statusover this weekend in Hong Kong as they play in the Qualifiers which would determine the core member status of the winner of the round of fixtures.

The Cheetahs who could have not asked for better preparations as they got the chance to train with the World`s best in the South African Side the Blitzebokke at their world-class University of Stellenbosch training facilities om South Africa go into this series with their heads held high as is left to do on the pitch as this time the administrators have outdone their part and its now left to the players to prove their worth.

The Cheetahs kicked off their campaign in what would be their third attempt with an assignment bytharshing Guyan 36-0 and they will take on Tonga two hours later which would wrap up their encounters for the day. The encounter against Tonga kicks off in two hours time round about 9am Zimbabwean time in what would an intriguing encounter.

Cheetahs coach Danny Hondo speaking from Hong Kong where the team is already said that he was happy with his team’s preparations.“We had a gym session in the morning and played Canada in the afternoon. The match against Canada was our first run on Hong Kong soil and we are pleased with our preparations. We will have a couple more sessions before tournament starts,” Hondo said in an interview with newsday.

“It was good for us to train with them (South Africa) because we learnt a lot from them and by the time we play in Hong Kong we will be confident having been exposed to better levels of rugby,” said the former Sables captain Jacques Leitao in an inerview and this is likey to be a possible game changer as for we have greatly undermined the value of having world class training facilities and this time round hopefully this cinderella they had down at the University of Stellenbocsch will indeed held the lads..

The Cheeetahs need to win the 12-team qualifier for them to feature in all nine legs on the HSBC Sevens World Series next year will first have to finish first or second in Pool G which features Spain, Tonga, and Guyana.
They kick off their campaign with two matches against Guyana(which they have already won) and Tonga before taking on Spain in what should be the group decider on Saturday.

Looking at our group the matches against Guyana and Tonga especially against the island nation of Tonga which we are still to play could be a tricky encounter for the Cheetahs but they are indeed up to the Challenge as this is probably one of the best national sports teams we have representing Zimbabwe with the only difference being they do not get as much coverage as do the others.

Zimbabwe will be looking to the experience of guys like Jacques Leitao. Leitao, who is the most experienced member of the side having won several silverware and two World Cup appearances that include a Bowl win during the 2009 global showpiece, knows that his side cannot afford to slip up at any stage if they are to emerge successful and to young guys like Shayne Makombe who is currently studying at the University of Kwazulu Natal and won the award for the best back in his debut season and was also selected to be part of the Sharks XI squad.

Zimbabwe therefore have nothing to fear in their group as they just have to believe in themselves The fact that they will take on Spain, who were a core member last year and Tonga, who have mostly been ranked above them, is no threat to Leitao who feels it’s their attitude that will count during their games. “It does not matter who we are going to play because all the teams are aiming for one thing and that is winning the qualifier tournament to make it for the core membership . . . We just have to win all our six games if we are to make it.“We have been trying for a number of years now to be among the core teams and we have been falling where it matters most,” said Leitao in an interview.

Cheetahs squad: Jacques Leitao (captain), Boyd Rouse, Njabulo Ndlovu, Shayne Makombe, Riaan O’Neill, Kudakwashe Chiwanza, Kilvan Magunje, Tafadzwa Chitokwindo, Hilton Mudariki, Stephan Hunduza, Biselele Tshamala, Graham Kaulback.
Head coach: Daniel Hondo
Assistant coach: John Ewing
Team manager: Steve McDonald

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