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Cheetahs brace for Maseru Sevens

Sport
THE Zimbabwe national Sevens rugby team is targeting a good showing at this year’s Maseru 7s Tournament, scheduled for Lesotho this weekend in their final preparatory event before their participation at the Africa Cup later this year.

THE Zimbabwe national Sevens rugby team is targeting a good showing at this year’s Maseru 7s Tournament, scheduled for Lesotho this weekend in their final preparatory event before their participation at the Africa Cup later this year. BY FREEMAN MAKOPA

The two-day tournament, slated for Saturday and Sunday, is expected to attract five national teams, which are Zimbabwe, Namibia, Zambia, Botswana, Lesotho Invitational Select, and A Lesotho Select.

Cheetahs team manager, Donald Mangenje yesterday told NewsDay Sport that preparations had been going on well and hoped the team was ready for the tournament.

“The team has continued training since their participation in the Lusaka International Sevens tournament. We are again taking a team with players that did not get to play in the Lusaka tournament who we feel need game time before the final selection for the Africa Cup,” he said.

“But the team is now ready to face their opponents and I believe they will do well.”

Mangenje said participating at this tournament would help the team in its preparatory tournament towards the Africa Cup, which will be played in Uganda on October 6 and 7.

The Africa Cup will double as the continental qualifier for next year’s World Cup to be held in San Francisco in the United States.

“We are using this tournament to finalise our team and after Maseru is the final camp squad before the Africa Cup so that we are objective, having assessed all players,” Mangenje said.

He said he hoped to see the hard work they got from their respective clubs paying off in what would be the first real chance for the players to show what they have to offer this season.

“We have changed the way we have approached our preparations before, so I am looking forward to seeing the results of that out on the pitch in Maseru,” Mangenje said.

“There is a lot of talent in this squad. So it is about translating that into some good rugby which will give us a good chance to reflect and see where we are.”

Cheetahs Team

Boyd Rouse (capt), Nelson Madida, Ngoni Chibuwe, Mark Kidson, Takudzwa Francisco, Lucky Sithole, Scottie Jones, Tarisai Mugariri, Shingi Hlanguyo, Takudzwa Kumadiro