Zimbabwe Women's Sevens Rugby team travelled to Tunisia on Wednesday for their final round of the Africa Rugby Sevens 2024 Olympic Qualifierafter various stakeholders provided material support for their preparations in camp.
Now they only have the qualification to worry about.
Zimbabwe are in Pool A together with South Africa, Uganda and hosts Tunisia with the matches scheduled for tomorrow and Sunday. Pool B is made up of Madagascar, Kenya, Zambia and Ghana with the two finalists making it to the 2024 Paris Olympic Games in France.
Thanks to the intervention by the Sports Ministry, Sports and Recreation Commission and a private player, First Link, the Lady Cheetahs were able to travel to Tunisia..
Head coach Cyprian Mandenge expressed his gratitude to the partners who came on board for the Lady Cheetahs.
“They are so looking forward to being there (Tunisia) because I think a lot of people have shown that the girls are being appreciated,” Mandenge told Zimbabwe Independent Sport.
“ZOC ( Zimbabwe Olympic Committee) was there for us, SRC was there for us, FirstLink came in for us so we hope to fly the flag high and leave everything on the field.”
Mandenge carried along a 12-member team with a fine balance of experience and quality. He said their target is to make it to Paris, 2024.
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“Obviously our target is to make it for the Olympics. I understand other teams have been training longer but it's something that we cannot control, it is what it is,” he said.
“It's a project that we should have started maybe three years ago but I'm happy with the progress that we have made so far.”
Mandenge had earlier given an insight into the poor state of the Lady Cheetahs’ camp.
“Our challenge is that we want now to get into camp. Obviously when we talk about camp, we talk of resources because we were going to Tunisia where it is hot. Ideally, we would have wanted to go and camp in a place like Kariba or Chiredzi where it's very hot so that we can acclimatise,” Mandenge said.
“Right now the biggest challenge that we have is that all the girls are not working so it's also very difficult for them to come to training sessions...it's been difficult.
“The girls are struggling in that area but from a coaching point of view, I don't doubt the commitment from the girls.”
Sports minister Kirsty Coventry said they were committed to bailing out the Lady Cheetahs.
Zimbabwe in Pool A kick off their campaign tomorrow with a tricky tie against neighbours South Africa at 09:22am, take on hosts Tunisia at 11:44 and wind off their pool matches against East African side, Uganda shortly before 3pm.
Mandenge rewarded loyalty, commitment and dedication in the 12 players he took to Tunisia. He believes the side is the best he could select. He is confident that they will give a good account of themselves in their hunt for an Olympic spot.
“I feel it’s a balanced side, experienced and quality players. Based on my selection policy, if you look at the majority of the squad, I have girls who have been attending sessions regularly since we came from Zambia (in June). That's one thing that also defines a person who is committed,” Mandenge said.
“I think 100% of thoseHarare girls were attending sessions throughout. They never missed a session. Like I highlighted when we came back from Zambia, sessions were open for everyone. So these are the girls that decided that they wanted to play for Zimbabwe. “Only a few other girls then went to the U20s but because there was no time then to readjust from 15s to 7s, those were left out.”
However, within the committed lot, only one player failed to make the cut because of the limited number of the travelling party.
“The only girl that I feel sorry for, a Harare girl that was left out is Cynthia Mukwesha. She has put in lots of work ever since she joined rugby. So, we are also looking forward to giving her a chance because she has put in a lot of work, unfortunately I could only take 12 girls,” he said.
“I had two girls that came from Bulawayo. They have done well, improving with every session. Obviously it showed that when they joined camp they were a bit behind in terms of fitness, skill and appreciation of 7s although one of them I had taken her to Zambia, Robyn Membere.
“While the other player, Lovelight Fusire didn't go to Zambia but she was part of the camp before we went to Zambia so when they came in they were not really on the same level with the other girls.”
Mandenge said they are ready for tomorrow.
“My strength and conditioning coach, who is also my assistant, Lucky Sithole did a wonderful job with the girls,” he added.
“In terms of preparedness I think we are prepared because I also had Dr Daniel Mlambo who's a psychologist. He also worked a lot on the mental side of the girls and everyone in camp including myself.
“I think the girls are prepared, they have been working hard. We hope to leave everything on the field for Zimbabwe.”
Lady Cheetahs’ squad for Tunisia
Rufaro Tagarira, Wadzanai Chidawa, Rumbidzai Chigumbu, Delight Mukomondo Erika Mack, Pauline Sianga
Kudzi Chirinda, Gladys Mukome, Tarren Munodani, Robyn Mhembere, Lovelight Fusire, Voice Ndou (SA)
