THE Zimbabwe Rugby Sevens team has set itself a lofty goal to win the upcoming African Men’s Sevens tournament and qualify for the 2024 Olympics when the country hosts the event at Harare Sports Club next month.
Top African sides such as South Africa, Kenya and Uganda are set to take part in the 12-team tournament, which will take place on September 16 and 17.
Only the champions will gain automatic qualification to the Olympics while the second and third- placed teams will have another chance to qualify through the Olympics repechage tournament.
Zimbabwe was drawn in Pool C of the event along with Uganda, Burkina Faso and Algeria.
Cheetahs coach Ricky Chirengende revealed that the team was aiming for nothing short of the championship and Olympic qualification.
“The target is without doubt to win and qualify for the Olympics. It’s a golden opportunity playing on home soil and we plan to use it to our advantage. We are not naive though to think that it’s going to be easy as there is tough competition but we are definitely shooting for the top prize,” he told Standardsport.
Chirengende gave an update on the Cheetahs’ preparation for the top Sevens event on the continent.
“Preparations are underway as we have been training since June. The focus then was just individual skills and strength work in the gym and now we have transitioned to field conditioning and bringing in team elements.
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“The squad will be announced after the Zambezi challenge on the 2nd of September (next week), as we will select a 15-man squad to get into a training camp,” he said.
The last time out, the Cheetahs finished third in the Olympic qualifiers and had another opportunity in the repechage event but they finished fifth
Chirengende believes the Cheetahs’ near misses in the past can positively help the team to do well in the upcoming tournament.
“Yes the Cheetahs have come close in previous years and I think it’s all about using those lessons of the past and ensuring they don’t repeat themselves. But we have to play well over the whole weekend to give ourselves any chance,” said Chirengende.
Pool A comprises South Africa, Madagascar, Tunisia and Ivory Coast while Kenya, Zambia, Namibia and Nigeria occupy Pool B.
Last weekend, the Cheetahs joined former Zimbabwe cricket captain Brendan Taylor for his 50km Walk 4 Recovery at Borrowdale Race Course before attending the Sports and Recreation Commission Zimbabwe induction session during the week, ahead of the Olympic Qualifiers.
Taylor through his foundation is trying to raise funds for a drug addiction recovery facility which is being established in Vumba.
