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HARARE - The fourth edition of the Harare International Sevens, on this weekend, will be played at Harare Sports Club’s rugby field after organisers used part of the cricket stadium for the first three editions of the yearly showcase.
Zimbabwe Sevens Committee chairman Donald Magenje believes the tournament, like its two forerunners, will be a spectacle.
“The important thing is that it promises to be an intriguing tournament. Obviously we are using this tournament to gear up for the Hong Kong Sevens later on this month,” he said.
“We have moved the games from the cricket pitch to the rugby field. We have introduced a concept of playing under the lights and we hope this will draw better crowds.”
Meanwhile, Zimbabwe coach Gilbert Nyamutsamba wants a strong performance from his side in this weekend’s tournament to build momentum ahead of the Hong Kong World Sevens Series leg.
Teams from Georgia, Hong Kong, Russia and South Africa will take part in the tournament at Harare Sports Club on Saturday and Sunday.
“What is important to us is to gather momentum,” Nyamutsamba told the Daily News yesterday.
“Obviously the objective is to win, but that’s not the bigger picture.”
The South Africans come into the tournament as defending champions, but Nyamutsamba also expects stiff competition from Russia and Hong Kong.
“Those sides will be playing in the last preparation matches before the Hong Kong Sevens. So they will want to get into the tournament on a high. But we are well prepared for them.
“The positive thing is that we have retained most of our senior and experienced players who have gelled well with the youngsters, giving us a balanced side.”
Nyamutsamba, however, is pinning hopes on his big guns.
“Look out for Gardner Nechironga, Tangai Nemadire, Tafadzwa Chitokwindo and Njabulo Ndlovu,” he said.
Meanwhile Hong Kong arrived jetted into the country yesterday, joining Georgia who arrived on Monday.
The rest of the foreign teams are expected in the country today.
