Debut appearance: Big winners

BULAWAYO Christian League (BCL) netball side Lobengula Queens had a memorable league debut when they emerged big winners scooping five accolades at the leagueaï¿½ï¿½s end of year awards.

The awards ceremony which was held at St Andrewaï¿½ï¿½s Anglican Church in Mpopoma last Saturday saw the debutants scooping the Most Consistent Team, Certificate of Participation and Best Team Awards.

One of the teamaï¿½ï¿½s players, Primrose Dube scooped the Player of the Year Award and was also selected for the top eight netball stars team.

The team took home 18 medals, one shield, four certificates and a brand new kit.

It must have been a convincing season for the Lobengula side, winning the league on their debut season after unwillingly bowing out of the Zimbabwe Netball Association (Zina) Division One league due to financial challenges.

aï¿½?aï¿½?BCL has offered us a chance to play the game we love again and Iaï¿½ï¿½m glad my team on their very first season played this well,aï¿½ï¿½aï¿½ï¿½ said the teamaï¿½ï¿½s coach, Mthokozisi Gambu.

Her sentiments were echoed by the clubaï¿½ï¿½s chairman, Thubelihle Moyo who said they could not afford the $156 affiliation fee needed every season and a $32 needed to pay umpires in their every home game.

aï¿½?In the BCL we pay $25 affiliation fee and umpires are only paid $5 but we still get to play competitive netball just like we did when were in the Zina Division One,aï¿½? she said.

Meanwhile, serial league winners, Sangano Revapostori who have won the BCL football title six times in a row also had a handful of awards namely Most Consistent team, Champions Award and Certificate of Participation Award.

The teamaï¿½ï¿½s individual awards went to 14 year old Thabo Mandizadza who took the Young Player Award while Edias Mhesano made it to the best eleven players of the leagueaï¿½ï¿½s soccer team.

Other accolades went to Crown of Glory who won the Orientation tournament and the, Easter tournament award while Victory Fellowship football team and National University of Science and Technology (Nust) were voted the most disciplined teams.

Gwabalanda Flying Eagles, High Point and Cowdray Parkaï¿½ï¿½s Catholic Church walked away with the Most Promising team Award.

The most organised team award went to Goldreef netball team and Brethren In Christ Church (BICC) central football team.

BCL president, Timothy Mandizadza said they were happy as a league teams managed to fulfil all their fixtures.

aï¿½?It has been a great season for us, we had more tournaments this season and with teams like Crown of Glory and Mpopoma Nazarene joining us this season, it means we are growing and reaching out,aï¿½? Mandizadza added.