BY CHRIS TAVONESA
HARARE – Brandon Mudzekenyedzi, the New Zealand-based livewire, is back in Zimbabwean colours after he was last year controversially omitted from the African country’s squad for qualifiers of the ongoing World Cup finals in France.
The 26-year-old Mudzekenyedzi, who was born in Harare and raised in New Zealand, returns to his country of birth to boost a side attempting to qualify for next year’s Olympic Games in Paris.
A speed demon with a wide range of abilities, Mudzekenyedzi has played in New Zealand’s Mitre10 competition for Waikato.
He is one of the most exciting players in a 12-man Zimbabwe squad for the Africa Sevens Cup to be staged in Harare at the weekend. The tournament’s champions will qualify directly for the Olympics while second and third positions go through to an inter-continental play-off competition.
Another welcome addition to the Zimbabwe Sevens side is the dynamic Tapiwa Mafura, a back-to-back Currie Cup winner in South Africa.
There is also Kelvin Kanenungo, co-captain of University of Johannesburg in the Varsity Cup and Hilton Mudariki, captain of the 15s national side.
ZIMBABWE SQUAD
Godfrey Magaramombe (captain), Hilton Mudariki (vice-captain), Tapiwa Malenga, Takudzwa Kumadiro, Vuyani Dhlomo, Ryan Musumhi, Brian Matoramusha, Kelvin Kanenungo, Shadreck Mandaza, Riaan O’Neill, Tapiwa Mafura, Brandon Mudzekenyedzi.
