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Zimbabwe national rugby team coach Cyprian Mandenge has called up six foreign-based players for the visit to Senegal in the opening round of the Rugby Africa Gold Cup later this month. The Sables regroup next week to begin preparations for the tie, with Mandenge hard-pressed to ensure the team makes amends for last year's disastrous campaign. The showdown in Dakar on 24 June precedes a frenetic schedule of three matches in two weeks, with a tough trip to Namibia on 15 July set to be followed by home matches against Kenya and Tunisia. Uganda complete the six-team Gold Cup division, and it is against the East Africans that the Sables finish their 2017 assignment on 5 August. Mandege said although there are scores of Zimbabwean players based outside the country, financial constraints meant he was only able to invite six. German-based lock Brian Nyaude and flank Conner Pritchard, who plies his trade in Australia, will add a European flavour to the Sables line-up while Hilton Mudariki, Witness Mandizha, Ngoni Chibuwe, and Biselele Tshamala are making the short trip from neighbouring South Africa. "Unfortunately we couldn't bring more foreign based players," Mandenge told KweséESPN. "We have about 182 foreign-based players, but we couldn't bring everyone because of resources. "Of cause some are also working, so there are a lot of challenges." Zimbabwe lost all three matches last year against Uganda, Kenya and Namibia to end bottom of the group in a horror show which temporarily coast Mandenge his job. The top Division, now known as the Gold Cup, has since been enlarged to six teams with the promotion of Tunisia and Senegal from Division 1 B. And, although the Sables are unlikely to endure another winless campaign, Mandenge is aware fans would expect a little more. Zimbabwe Squad: Denford Mutangamira, Larence Cleminson, Irvin Nduwa, Brian Makamure, Tolerance Zishe, Graham Cochran, Takudzwa Bvunzawabaya, Takudzwa Mandiwanza, Conner Pritchard, Biselele Tshamala, Lucky Sithole, Osborne Muhambi, Hilton Mudariki, Scotty Jones, Joshua Gando, Dan Capsopoulos, Boyd Rouse, Ngoni Chibuwe, Stephan Hunduza, Takudzwa Kumadiro,Tadius Hwata, Tinashe Gwisai.
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