Safaricom Sevens 2010

Churchill Bulldogs is the official team of the Churchill high School in Harare, Zimbabwe. They have landed an invite to play in the Safari Seven Schools Competiotion this year. This competition, that features the Provincial Schools’ teams in Kenya, has previously been won by a Zimbabwe Schools Select team.

The Bulldogs will be led by their Principal, Patterson Mugwanda. “We are taking this tour very seriously and there’s a great deal of excitement in the school. We should do well in Nairobi considering that we have a number of top drawer players ready to showcase themselves on a big stage,” said Mugwanda.

Churchill has produced 2 Springboks – Tendai “Beast” Mtawawira and Roy Mordt. Many Old Churchillians have donned the Zimbabwe Sables colours. These include Gerald Sibanda, Tangai Memadire, and Willis Magasa who have all been to the RFUEA Grounds with the Zim 7s side.

This Monday, May 25, Churchill warmed up for the tournament when they were15-17 losing finalists, in the Eaglesvale 7s, to Peterhouse School. Subsequently, six Churchill boys made the Zimbabwe Sevens rugby team.

Churchill will make the most of their Safari Sevens invite to incorporate a 15s rugby tour. They will play Alliance, RVA and St Mary’s in the course of their visit. The Bulldogs have a rich 15s background. They play in the premier league of Zimbabwe schools rugby which features 7 other schools – Prince Edward, St Georges College, St Johns College, Peterhouse College, Lomagundi College, Christian Brothers College and Falcon College. In 2008, the team was 4th in this league.

“The Churchill 15s team is quite good with 8 of the boys having been called up to national school team trials. We expect to give a very good account of ourselves in Kenya, ” said Head Coach Taya Chakarisa, who also coaches the Harare B provincial team.

Churchill won the Powersales Rugby Tournament, in Bulawayo, during the easter weekend. They were, however, unable to match that performance when in the prestigious Cottco Rugby Festival. They narrowly lost all their matches to big guns Falcon 13-15, Lomagundi 11- 13, and Peterhouse 6-10. The Bulldogs also started their League fixtures two weeks ago with losses to St Georges and Prince Edward.

Team: Chodokufa Alex (Harare Province Rugby – HPR), Mandioma Simba(HPR), Myamuramba Tongai (Zim Schools Volleyball, Harare Province Athletics), Kabwe Mwamba, Mirisi Kuda (HPR), Chugumbura Tonderai (HPR), Magadu Stanford, Kamwemba Passion (HPR), Majaha Andrew (Zim School 7s), Muronzi Shadreck (HPR 2008), Deve Marcus (Zim School 7s), Chirimuuta Juda Simba (Zim School 7s), Hunduza Steve (Zim School 7s 2008), Magaya Leornard, Makombe Shayne (HPR, Zim School 7s)

Management: Taya Chakarisa (Head Coach), Jeff Madhake (Assistant Coach), Tinashe Chishanga (Assistant Coach),
Dr Taurai Chipamaunga (Team Doctor), Mariarosa Chiteka (Physiotherapist), Temba Mpofu (Team Manager)

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