‘We Don’t Have The Same Names, But We Have The Same Jersey’: Zimbabwe 7s Captain Malenga Confident Despite New-Look Team

With several established stars now focused on Zimbabwe’s World Cup-bound Sables, Tapiwa Malenga is embracing the challenge of leading a new-look Cheetahs side in Kampala. (Match Schedule, tickets, copyright free images, fixtures and streaming information below)

KAMPALA, Uganda – Zimbabwe’s rugby teams have a long tradition of sharing players across formats and levels: Fifteens, Sevens, youths.

Fifteens stars such as electrifying winger Edward Sigauke, dynamic centre Brandon Mudzekenyedzi and lively fullback Tapiwa Mafura, for example, have also starred for the Sevens side in recent times. They have all now moved on to fully focus on the Sables, who are heading to their first World Cup since 1991 next year.

Ricky Chirengende, coach of the Sevens side, nicknamed the Cheetahs, also doubled as assistant coach of the national Fifteens side. He has also been replaced at the Cheetahs to allow him more time with the World Cup-bound Sables.

This means a new-look national Sevens team for Zimbabwe will go to battle at the World Rugby SVNS3 Africa Qualifiers in the Ugandan capital Kampala from 26–27 September 2026.

Zimbabwe’s captain, Tapiwa Malenga, will be one of the few survivors from previous Cheetahs squads, but he isn’t panicking about leading a team without some of its past star players.

“It’s a challenge, but also an opportunity,” Malenga tells Rugby Africa Media.

“Those guys have been successful in their careers through the Sables, and we’ll miss their experience, no doubt. But this group is hungry. We don’t have the same names, but we have the same jersey and standards. The challenge is building combinations and trust, fast. The upside is that we have energy, no fear, and guys are desperate to prove themselves.”

Zimbabwe have been grouped in Pool A alongside Nigeria, Ghana and Morocco in their quest to qualify for SVNS3, the third tier of the global international Sevens circuit. Pool B has the hosts Uganda with Zambia, Tunisia and Senegal.

The Cheetahs skipper knows what his team has to do in Kampala to return home with the crown. “Win each game in front of us,” says Malenga. “Play with discipline, physicality and pride.”

Twenty-eight-year-old Malenga was introduced to rugby in Harare’s township of Mbare, at the famed Mbare Academy that has produced a number of Zimbabwe international rugby players.

“I fell in love with the contact and the team spirit aspect of the game,” says Malenga. Proceeding to Churchill Boys High School in the Zimbabwean capital was a turning point for Malenga, joining a school with a reputation for being a reliable nursery of rugby players over many decades.

Some of Churchill’s most notable products include legendary former Springbok Tendai “Beast” Mtawarira, as well as current Sables aces Tino Mavesere, Kudzai Mashawi and Victor Mupunga. For Malenga, stepping onto the same grounds as those top players changed everything.

“That’s where it got serious,” he says. “Great coaches, great culture, and tough games every Saturday. That’s where I learned that rugby is about character first, skill second.”

A hooker in the Sevens format, Malenga had people he looked up to growing up, both at home in Zimbabwe and on the international stage.

“My first role model was Dan Carter, one of the greatest flyhalves in history,” Malenga says.

“I loved how he played with vision, accuracy and also selflessness. Then of course there was my uncle, he took me to training one day and I never looked back. The camaraderie got me hooked.”

Malenga has been a Sevens specialist at national level, although he is still an active player in the Fifteens format at domestic level.

“It is partly by opportunity,” he says. “I love Sevens because it’s fast, skillful, and tests your fitness and decision-making. It taught me space and how to work under fatigue.”

The immediate dream is to win the Kampala tournament, but beyond that, Malenga has greater aspirations.

“What I aspire to is simple: leave Zimbabwean rugby better than I found it, and also develop the next generation and play the type of rugby that makes people proud.”

Pool A

• Zimbabwe
• Nigeria
• Ghana
• Morocco 

Pool B

• Uganda
• Zambia
• Tunisia
• Senegal

Where to watch?

Rugby Pass TV: https://rugbypass.tv/home

Rugby Africa YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/RugbyAfricaOfficial

Rugby Africa Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RugbyAfrique

Saturday, 26 September 2026 (EAT)

• 12:00 — Nigeria vs Ghana
• 12:22 — Zimbabwe vs Morocco
• 12:44 — Zambia vs Tunisia
• 13:06 — Uganda vs Senegal
• 14:44 — Nigeria vs Morocco
• 15:06 — Zimbabwe vs Ghana
• 15:28 — Zambia vs Senegal
• 15:50 — Uganda vs Tunisia

Sunday, 27 September 2026 (EAT)

• 09:00 — Ghana vs Morocco
• 09:22 — Tunisia vs Senegal
• 09:44 — Zimbabwe vs Nigeria
• 10:06 — Uganda vs Zambia
• 12:28 — 5th Place Semi-Final 1 — 3rd Pool A vs 4th Pool B
• 12:50 — 5th Place Semi-Final 2 — 3rd Pool B vs 4th Pool A
• 13:12 — Cup Semi-Final 1 — 1st Pool A vs 2nd Pool B
• 13:34 — Cup Semi-Final 2 — 1st Pool B vs 2nd Pool A
• 15:12 — 7th Place Final — Loser SF1 vs Loser SF2
• 15:36 — 5th Place Final — Winner SF1 vs Winner SF2
• 16:03 — Bronze Final — Loser Cup SF1 vs Loser Cup SF2
• 16:40 — Cup Final — Winner Cup SF1 vs Winner Cup SF2
• 17:02 — Medal Presentation

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Written by Enock Muchinjo