Online Reporter
Veronica Gwaze
Zimpapers Sports Hub
AN invitation for Zimbabwean teams to participate at the Confederation of Southern Africa Netball Association Club Championships next month has sparked controversy in domestic netball.
The inaugural edition of the prestigious clubs’ contest, slated for Windhoek, Namibia between May 1-5, 2025. Top ranking clubs from the Southern African Development Community are expected to converge and battle for silverware.
With the invitation open to all the SADC nations’ registered netball leagues, Zimbabwe Netball Association opted to extend it to Premier Netball League only.
The league will be sending four teams to participate at the tournament.
Reigning PNL champions ZDF Queens, first and second runners-up, Black Rhinos and Harare City have been selected to represent Zimbabwe at the regional contest.
League newbies Makate High Flyers, owned by one of the PNL executive members have been awarded the fourth ticket.
While the club has an untraceable division one record, it purportedly got the COSANA slot for finishing the PNL pre-season tournament as first runners up to ZDF Queens.
However, considering that ZINA has two affiliate leagues, PNL and Rainbow Netball League, the move deliberately sidelines teams from the latter.
“We need to be honest with ourselves as netball in Zimbabwe and find common ground if our game is to realise growth,” Brenda Chipere, a foreign based netball analyst.
“Such tournaments are once in a life-time opportunity, it is the first time for netball to have club championships which means we need to capitalize on it for our clubs to get exposure.
“What is the reason for an association to consider one league for this opportunity yet they collect affiliations from the two and even pick players from both leagues for national duty?”
Currently RANL have the highest number of players in the national teams.
Correctional Queens, Glow Petroleum and Black Mambas were the winners, second and third placed teams at RANL last season.
Gems captain Felisitus Kwangwa, shooters Tafadzwa Mawango, Thandazile Ndlovu, midcourt star Faith Mutero (Correctional Queens), Ursula Ndlovu (Glow), Anifa Luya (Flow Angels) and Nicole Muzanenhamo (Green Fuel) all play under RANL.
Flow Angels head coach Tatenda Shinya, a former Gems mentor, notes that the invitation is a boast for Zimbabwean netball.
However, the manner in which the mother body handled the offer may affect the growth of the game.
“Our national team barely gets international friendlies and opportunities like these were supposed to work in our favour,” he said.
“The platform should have been opened for top teams from both leagues so that all players get an opportunity and also to improve the quality of our game (teams).
“This is humiliating, clearly an act of pride, at the expense of our beloved sport.”
However, Gems head coach Ropafadzo Mutsauki who also mentors Harare City urged the selected clubs to take the tournament as an opportunity to improve their game.
“I am grateful for the opportunity; it shows that we are recognized out there.
“This opportunity will help our local players who have never played on an international platform, so it gives them a chance to showcase their talent out there.
“Such opportunities are important and we need to capitalise on them.”
