Pangolins realistic ahead of Olympic qualifiers

19 Jun, 2016 - 00:06 0 Views

The Sunday Mail

Tinashe Kusema
A TICKET to the Rio Olympic Games will be at stake when 16 teams – including Zimbabwe – converge in Dublin, Ireland for the rugby repechage tournament next weekend. A repechage is a practice in series competitions that allow participants who failed to meet qualifying standards by a small margin to have another shot at qualification.

The Zimbabwe women rugby team, the Pangolins, are a realistic lot, with gaffer Abigail Govera admitting that the 2016 Olympic ticket is likely beyond her team’s reach.

Govera said the locals, who are expected to fly out tomorrow, will use the repechage tournament to prepare for the 2020 Olympic qualifiers.

“What we, the technical team and the rugby executive, are looking at is not to qualify, but to lay the initial foundations towards our ultimate goal in 2020.

“Unlike our male counterparts, we came 4th in Africa and competing against 15 other teams for the one remaining spot is far from being feasible for us.

“Yes we are going to be competitive, and intend to give ourselves the best chance of qualifying, but our ultimate goal remains the Tokyo Games in 2020,” she said.

The repechage tournament, been slated for June 25-26 at the Irish capital’s UCD Bowl, will see 16 teams square up for the last ticket to the Rio Games.

These teams are Zimbabwe, Uruguay, Argentina, Mexico, Trinidad and Tobago, Russia, Spain, Portugal, Kenya, Uganda, Samoa, Cook Islands, Kazakhstan, Hong Kong, China and hosts Ireland.

“We are in the same pool as Samoa, Russia and Madagascar and that is a very tough group,” said Govera. “Russia are on the HSBC circuit and Samoa play more games in a month than we do in a year, so it’s a very difficult position we find ourselves in.

“As far as this current campaign is concerned, our preparations have been great. The girls have been doing fitness and conditioning since March, and now we are in our final camp and hope to maximize the little time we have left to iron out one or two areas.”

Squad
Charity Mucucuti (captain), Constance Ngwende (vice-captain), Precious Marange, Ruvimbo Privilege Musere, Caroline Malenga, Gertrude Masora, Margaret Magwaro, Simbisai Rejoice Kadye, Peace Sithole, Rumbidzai Liliosa Chigumbu, Lindiwe Munerenyu, Sicelumusa Nyoni, Chikomborero Muchinguri, Lissy Wasarirevu

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