Chronicle Editor
Nkosilathi Sibanda, Sport Reporter
BULAWAYO-based handball club, Ajax, has been named the best men’s team in the African Union Sports Council Region 5, Zone VI rankings, following an impressive campaign last year.
The teams’ classification list released recently also reveals that Manyame Falcons were on second position followed by Harare City on third.
In the women’s category Manyame Sparrows were ranked second after Mozambique side Matchedje.
Bulawayo Polytechnic and Bulawayo Handball Club were put on position four and five respectively.
The rankings were based on all Southern African teams’ performances in the regional Super Cup competition held at the Aquatic Complex in Chitungwiza, in December.
Ajax proved to be a force to reckon with when they finished the year on high after they took gold at the tournament. They didn’t lose a match in the competition that had teams from South Africa, Zambia and Mozambique.
The Zimbabwe Handball Federation (ZHF) secretary-general Edson Chirowodza applauded the achievement, saying the rankings showed that the sport was improving in the country.
“We are extremely proud of Ajax Handball Club on being ranked as the best in the region. They did us proud and we really appreciate the hard work they put throughout last year. Again, we say congratulations to Manyame Falcons, Harare City, Manyame Sparrows, Bulawayo Polytechnic and Bulawayo Handball Club.
“What we saw at the Zone VI Club Championships really impressed us. As a country we are now a powerhouse in handball.
“Our development initiatives are giving us the results we want. It is our hope that we continue on the same path as we grow the sport,” said Chirowodza.
Meanwhile, Chirowodza said this year ZHF plans to start early their programmes.
They intend organising many tournaments.
“We have a jampacked programme in the first three months.
Locally regional leagues will commence in March as a lead up to national championships end of year. Before that, we have scheduled our annual strategic review meeting,” he said. – @NkosieLegend
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