adminCaroline Magenga Sports Reporter
Two of Zimbabwe’s sports associations have announced their squads to represent the country at the 2014 edition of the Confederation of Schools Sports Association of Southern Africa games and are confident of their abilities to do the country proud. This year’s edition of the annual competition will be held in Zambia from August 27-30 and the netball and basketball squads are expected to begin their training camps on August 18.
Netball picked their team at the end of the annual Stella Tea 17-and-Under tournament in Kariba, which was dominated by Pamushana High School.
Like netball, the two basketball teams were selected last weekend following a two day tournament for both boys and girls at Girls High in Harare. Boy’s coach Simon Lawson said he was happy with the selected team and confident they will be good contenders for first place.
Pamushana came out tops in the 12-team competition to retain their title as the best netball side in the country. It is the fourth successive year that the Masvingo-based school had won the tournament and they will now keep the silverware for good, forcing the sponsors Tanganda Tea to unveil another trophy for next year.
It is against the background of their dominance on the domestic scene that coach Simbarashe Mlambo believes his team will bring a medal from the COSASA Games.
“It actually proved to be a difficult task to pick the team because all the participating teams displayed prowess and skill in the pitch but I am pleased with the final selection we have,
“Most of the girls are from Pamushana and have been to the COSASA before so they already know what to expect.
For the new girls who also joined we are confident in their playing ability so we are expecting good results,” Mlambo said.
The same optimism was also echoed by their basketball counterparts.
Like netball, the two basketball teams were selected last weekend following a two day tournament for both boys and girls at Girls High in Harare.
Boy’s coach Simon Lawson said he was happy with the selected team and confident they will be good contenders for first place.
“I am confident that the team will put up a good show, as a coach I am honoured to be working with such talent as was exhibited by the selected boys and girls that will represent the country at the Games.
“Any other selector would have picked the same team and with the upcoming Youth Games we are assured all our teams will be undergoing rigorous training in their respective provinces so that during camp it will only be a matter of players getting to know one another and learning to play as a team,” Mlambo said.
Zimbabwe will be clashing with other African teams including Botswana, Namibia, Lesotho, Swaziland, South Africa and hosts Zambia.
Squads:
Netball: Sharon Bwanali, Ropafadzo Muhwira, Beatrice Busu, Martha Chifire, Vimbainashe Chirinda, Thelma Maseura, Lisa Mutambu, Loaine Ncube, Thinyikho Khosa, Nomagugu Makhalima, Dumoluhle Ncube, Mercy Mukwadi.
Coach: Simbarashe. Mlambo
Basketball: Boys
Tichaona Chinyanganya, Mukukula Watidaishe, Simbarashe W Mutembedza, Tinashe Mavhura, Takunda M Kunaka, Borndace T Chiripanhura, Tinotenda Blesssing, Tanaka N Manowa, Younger Mbiriza, Dexter T Musonza, Munashe S Hunzwi,Tanatswa A Bure,Ropafadzo V Bingura, Hilton Kurangwa.
Coach: Simon Lawson
Women: Thandolwenkosi Ncube, Lwazilwethu Manhlangu, Natasha Chimidzi, Lewwy Mukamba, Getrude Mapiye, Monalisa Nyauchi, Mary Chawaipira, Hazvinei Mambo, Emma Makoni.
Coach: Pretty Tinarwo
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