BY GRACE CHIRUMANZU
ZIMBABWE’S Rugby Sevens will be looking at proving a force to reckon with at the international stage when they take on Wales, in an opening match of the 2009 IRB Sevens World Cup, when the tournament explodes into life in Dubai, on March 5.The Zimbabweans who are also known as “The Cheetahs” are in Pool F. They are pooled with heavyweights Argentina, who recently won the San Diego sevens tournament, which ended in USA, last weekend.
According to a source, the San Diego sevens, “the last major event before the Rugby World Cup kicks off in Dubai produced even more intriguing results, with Argentina taking the Cup honours for only the second time in IRB Sevens World Series history.”
The Cheetahs will not only face Argentina who will be bubbling with a morale-booster, they were awarded in America but also face an equally competitive Uruguay in their pool fixture.
Uruguay team manager, Felipe Puig, was full of praise for The Cheetahs, telling thie reporter, “Zimbabwe Sevens Team is rated as a second level team, immediately after the top class teams (NZ, Fidji, England etc). In a good day, Zimbabwe can beat a first class team.”
““Uruguay is ranked fourth in the pool, so Zimbabwe stands a good chance of qualifying ahead of us,” he added.
Puig however remains optimistic that his team has the ability to pull a win, on a bright day.
“We think that if we are lucky and perform well on the day, we can give Zimbabwe and Wales a good challenge.”
The Cheetahs will however not be taking any team for granted especially after Uruguay turned down regional powerhouse, Kenya, in San Diego, last weekend.
The Cheetahs head coach Liam Middleton is very positive of the global showdown, believing it to be a lifetime opportunity.
““If we had not qualified for the World Cup it would be something that held us back from our progression, because whatever you say it’s a huge thing, it comes around once every four years and some players only experience it once in their careers. Qualifying for this World Cup is a milestone in the country’s real development in Sevens.”
ZIMBABWE’S Rugby Sevens will be looking at proving a force to reckon with at the international stage when they take on Wales, in an opening match of the 2009 IRB Sevens World Cup, when the tournament explodes into life in Dubai, on March 5.The Zimbabweans who are also known as “The Cheetahs” are in Pool F. They are pooled with heavyweights Argentina, who recently won the San Diego sevens tournament, which ended in USA, last weekend.
According to a source, the San Diego sevens, “the last major event before the Rugby World Cup kicks off in Dubai produced even more intriguing results, with Argentina taking the Cup honours for only the second time in IRB Sevens World Series history.”
The Cheetahs will not only face Argentina who will be bubbling with a morale-booster, they were awarded in America but also face an equally competitive Uruguay in their pool fixture.
Uruguay team manager, Felipe Puig, was full of praise for The Cheetahs, telling thie reporter, “Zimbabwe Sevens Team is rated as a second level team, immediately after the top class teams (NZ, Fidji, England etc). In a good day, Zimbabwe can beat a first class team.”
““Uruguay is ranked fourth in the pool, so Zimbabwe stands a good chance of qualifying ahead of us,” he added.
Puig however remains optimistic that his team has the ability to pull a win, on a bright day.
“We think that if we are lucky and perform well on the day, we can give Zimbabwe and Wales a good challenge.”
The Cheetahs will however not be taking any team for granted especially after Uruguay turned down regional powerhouse, Kenya, in San Diego, last weekend.
The Cheetahs head coach Liam Middleton is very positive of the global showdown, believing it to be a lifetime opportunity.
““If we had not qualified for the World Cup it would be something that held us back from our progression, because whatever you say it’s a huge thing, it comes around once every four years and some players only experience it once in their careers. Qualifying for this World Cup is a milestone in the country’s real development in Sevens.”
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