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Paul  Munyuki Harare Bureau
THE Cheetahs’ fate at the Hong Kong leg of the World Sevens Series core membership qualifying battle might be decided in the group stage after they were drawn in a tough Pool F.Expected to face Spain, Tonga and Georgia, the Cheetahs, who are under the guidance of newly-appointed coach and former vice-captain Daniel Hondo, face a tough time ahead.

Hondo told the media that they are not taking any of the sides lightly, the ultimate goal being to make it as a core member.

Spain were a core member last season and will be battling to regain their place among the elite.

The last time they faced Zimbabwe in Hong Kong was in 2011, with the Cheetahs losing 10-17 in the Bowl semi-final.

The Zimbabweans beat Tonga 22-19 two years ago in Hong Kong.Hondo was part of this Cheetahs side together with the likes of Njabulo Ndlovu, Gardner Nechironga, Tangai Nemadire and Fortunate Chipendu who are still playing.

The previous year, at the same stage, the Cheetahs lost their battle for the World Series core membership with a semi-final defeat at the hands of Portugal where only three teams were needed to qualify as core members.Zimbabwe and Tunisia are the two African qualifiers who made it for the tournament after finishing as the top two sides in the Africa Cup played last year at Prince Edward.

Kenya and South Africa are already core-members.The winner of the core team qualifier, which runs alongside the HSBC Sevens World Series round in Hong Kong, will join the World Series in 2015-16, the season that will lead up to Sevens’ debut at the Olympic Games.