Left to right: Gerald Maguranyanga, Gordon Pangeti, Leon Chimbuya, Joseph Dweba (man of the match against the Cardiff Blues), Derek Chiwari and Bright Chivhandire. The former Zimbabwean national player and coach, Brendon Dawson, is absent after returning home earlier. PHOTO: MORGAN PIEK

The Toyota Cheetahs recently hosted six visitors to the Free State in the form coaches from Zimbabwe who wanted to come and learn from a team that their hold in high regard.It was very fitting that on their final night in the City of Roses, they were able to attend the Guinness Pro14 match between the Cheetahs and Cardiff Blues, and it ended in a 21-10 win of the hosts.Gordon Pangeti, Leon Chimbuya, Bright Chivhandire, Brendon Dawson, Derek Chiwari and Gerald Maguranyanga, all represent the country at different levels of coaching, and their goal is to improve their game north of the Limpopo River and to develop the interest in the game.Pangeti, who hails from the capital city, Harare, told Bloemfontein Courant, they came to Bloemfontein, due to the brand of rugby the Free State is known for, and also because two of Zimbabwe’s darling sons on the field, also played at the Cheetahs.“Firstly there is a bit of history between the Cheetahs and Zimbabwe, and that is in the form of two characters, Kennedy Tshimba and Tonderai Chavhanga,” said Pangeti.“The Cheetahs have been exceptional hosts and they understand the sort of talent that comes out of Zimbabwe.“The Cheetahs play an expansive game, and you know that every year you are going to get really exciting rugby. 

They might not always have the biggest players, but they are conditioned and they play a really nice brand of rugby. “In Zimbabwe, what we struggle with is the size. We’ve got the skill and were trying and play a more expansive brand of rugby as well. “Coming here was to try and pick the brain of Franco Smith a bit and try and get an understanding of his game and trying and improve and better our game back in Zimbabwe. “We also got to meet a couple of the strength and conditioning guys and that also helped us in learning some of the new ways to improve the strength of the guys. They play a really high-intensity game, so that is what we need to get into. “We might have physically smaller teams, but if we are able to lift our intensity, we might be able to get better results from our strategy. ”During next year’s U18 Craven Week which will be hosted in Bloemfontein a few of the coaches will be returning with the Zimbabwean schools’ team and they will be reporting back on the progress made.There is also a strong possibility that MJ Smith of the Cheetahs will be heading Zimbabwe to help out with the countries national U23 team. – MORGAN PIEK