AFTER bagging a silver medal at the recently concluded African Games in Accra, Ghana, the Zimbabwe Sevens rugby side have turned their focus to winning the forthcoming Africa Cup scheduled for end of June with a view of returning to the big boys’ circuit.
In Accra, the Ricky Chirengende-coached side started on the back foot as they came face to face with top teams that include Uganda and Kenya.
This was their first competitive outing and to come second against such odds was an achievement.
“Obviously, you don’t go into a tournament wanting to come second, we were shooting for gold, but it was always going to be tough. Uganda and Kenya obviously are giants in the sevens’ game in Africa and both were on the Challenger Series coming from Montevideo straight to the African Games,” Chirengende told Independent Sport.
“So, they had match fitness, they had tournaments under their belts while it was our first one. But we are proud of the silver medal.
“There was a challenge, but you look at a game of rugby and in those 14 minutes anything can happen and that’s what I told our players; just go and prove yourself. We had a couple of guys there that were playing their first major tournament, and they stepped up and did well.”
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For the Africa Cup, he wants to assemble the best possible side that gives them chance to win the Cup.
“There’s Africa Cup at the end of June into July so that’s what we are building on now and hopefully we are going to bring in reinforcements. The team that went to Ghana did well, but you obviously want to assemble the best team possible if you want to shoot for gold. Obviously, we are going to lift the Africa Cup that’s the objective,” he added.
“This is massive; it’s our most important tournament of the year. The winner obviously gets to get back on the Challenger Series and when you are on the Challenger Series you get a shot to get onto the international circuit. So, we are throwing everything at it and hopefully we come first.”