ZIMBABWE Sevens Rugby head coach Ricky Chirengende has predicted a tough road to redemption after missing out on the Olympics and a place in the Challenger Series.
The Cheetahs finished in fourth place at the Paramount Garments Rugby Africa Men's Sevens Olympic Qualifiers hosted at Harare Sports Club recently.
Kenya beat South Africa in the final to qualify for the 2024 Paris Olympics in France. South Africa’s Blitzboks slid to the repechage together with bronze medalist Uganda, who edged the Cheetahs in an entertaining third place playoff.
“So I'm still digesting. It's going to be a tough next year obviously not having these high quality tournaments to play so far obviously Africa Cup is the only tournament that we have qualified for next year,” Chirengende told The Standard Sport
“We are going to sit down with the management and technical team and see what other tournaments we can go to with the budgets that we have because we still need to play high level competitive rugby to make sure that we don't fall behind.”
The team had a balance of both local and international stars and has been singled out as one of the country’s best assembled Cheetahs sides.
“The future of 7s is good. You saw the team that played. Shingi Katsvere was also injured in camp and then Edward Sigauke both who are playing really good rugby so I'm excited. I'm excited for the future of 7s. "Whether I'm still in charge or not, I think there's something good that's brewing. I think we are definitely on course to be at least an African powerhouse again and looking to make the core circuit,” he added.
Chirengende reiterated his call for patience with the team.
“I just encourage people to keep their heads up. I think the Africa Cup next year should be the next target. If we win the Africa Cup we are back in the Challenger Series then we can start competing to get back on the circuit,” he said.
“So for now it will be going back on the drawing board and planning. As soon as we have the dates for the Africa Cup we can start planning and making calls to make sure that when we go for the Africa Cup.”