Sports Reporter
ZIMBABWE Sevens side, the Cheetahs, are not taking the Middelburg Sevens tournament lightly as this will be their final preparatory tourney ahead of the World Cup qualifiers in Morocco next weekend. The Middelburg Sevens kicks off this morning with five local teams — Cheetahs, Goshawks,

Under-18, Under-16, and the Pangolins — taking part in the two-day event.
This is Zimbabwe’s largest delegation to represent the country in an international tournament with four squads set to take part in the Middleburg Sevens in South Africa over the weekend.

While the Cheetahs and the Pangolins will be preparing for their Sevens World Cup qualifiers, the Under-18 and Under-16 schools sides will be taking part in the Craven Week tournament with the Goshawks giving future Cheetahs international exposure.
With Germany-based Manasah Sita, South Africa-based Mike Morris and Graham Kaulback all injured, Scotland-based Gerald Sibanda unable to travel with the Cheetahs for the next two weeks, forced replacements have been made to the side.

Tafadzwa Chitokwindo bounces back with Matland Warriors forward Lucky Sithole set to get his first run with the Cheetahs having made the cut for the travelling party.
Gweru Sports Club winger Kilvan Magunje seems to be commanding a more regular jersey now. Besides Sithole, there are no new faces in the Cheetahs squad with captain Jacques Leitao, Fortune Chipendo, Wensley Mbanje, Njabulo Ndlovu, Jonathan McWade, Gardner Nechironga, Tangai Nemadire and Daniel Hondo making up the team. The Cheetahs have been drawn in Group D with where they will take on Bulls-Barbarians, Pumas and Pumas-Barbarians before the knock-out stage where they have a possibility of meeting the Blitzbokke, reigning world champions Wales, Botswana or Namibia.

While the Cheetahs will use the tourney to prepare for the crucial qualifiers, the Blitzbokke and Wales will be warming up for the opening leg of the HSBC Sevens World Series at the season-opening Gold Coast Sevens in Australia next month.

Squads
Cheetahs: Fortune Chipendu, Jacques Leitao (captain), Njabulo Ndlovu, Justin Coles, Lucky Sithole, Kilvan Magunje, Daniel Hondo, Tangai Nemadire, Gardner Nechironga, Jonathan Mcwade, Wensley Mbanje, Tafadzwa Chitokwindo

Goshawks: Lenience Tambwera, Steven Hunduza, Scotty Jones (captain), Farai Jijita, Lloyd Machanjaira, Japhet Ndebele, Kuda Chiwanza, Regis Mutangadura, Lungile Tshuma, Simbarashe Chirimuuta, Tatenda Mutataguta, Tatenda Chigumbura

Under-18: Mark Wright (captain), Sean Coles, Rukudzo Gona, Edward Kadzere, Takudzwa Kumadiro, Reece Lindsay-White, Alistair McLeod, Bastien Mendelsohn, Sebastien Roche, Nicholas Burnet, James Sudden, Justin Swan.

Under 16: Kudzaishe Munangi (captain), Tamuka Pamire, Benjamin Clipstone, Brighton Chinyanya, Callum Du Plessis, Tinashe Chibonda, Shingirayi Katsvere, Farayi Murinye, Ropafadzo Kwaramba, Kenny Chirombo, Mark Hulbert, Munashe Kumunda

Pangolins: Abigail Gondo (captain), Ruvimbo Musere, Charity Mucucuti, Sinqobile Mpofu, Simbisai Kadye, Marlin Mangoto, Rachael Tembo, Precious Pazani, Lillian Mapiye, Margaret Magwaro, Octavia Munhamo, Lissy Masarirevhu.