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MARK OF A CHAMPION . . . Cheetahs coach Gilbert Nyamutsamba is all smiles after his men won the Kwese Sports Sevens tournament in Victoria Falls on Sunday

Mehluli Sibanda Senior Sports Reporter
WHEN Sierra Leone, one of the international sides scheduled to take part in the inaugural edition of the Kwese Sports Victoria Falls Sevens rugby tournament withdrew at the last-minute, organisers had no option, but to tweak the fixtures. The move saw Zimbabwe and Namibia, who had initially been drawn in Group A, being split into separate pools. The move is said not to have gone well with Namibian coach Jurie Booysen who remarked that the teams at the tournament were not up to their standard.

But he was made to eat humble pie as the Cheetahs beat his men in the final.

“We will keep working hard, training hard, the boys are really up for it, we want to show everyone, we want to show the world where we deserve to be and we know that we should be in Hong Kong,’’ said Cheetahs skipper Hilton Mudariki.

“But it’s all a process and so we are just going to work until the Africa Cup, hopefully a few tournaments in between, we are looking forward to that.’’

His sentiments were that the tournament was well organised and expressed his gratitude to the people of Victoria Falls who came out in their numbers to support the event.

“First time ever out here, I thought it was an absolutely well-run tournament, the people of Vic Falls came out to support us today in the final which is absolutely amazing for us.’’

Coach Gilbert Nyamutsamba said they are now looking to play in three more tournaments before the Africa Cup in November.