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Webbo Marime Special Correspondent
DELTA Queens Netball Club managed to starve off fierce competition from seven other teams that also included an all-men’s netball team (Bright Emeralds) to win an inaugural netball tournament at Airport Netball Pitch on Saturday.
The beverage producers amassed 10 points while the hosts, Airport Queens Club, came second on 8 points. Harare South-based Bright Emerald Queens came third on 6 points.
Eight teams, namely Diamond Queens, Delta Queens, Anatroth Queens, JJ Queens, Bright Emerald Girls, Airport Queens, as well as Bright Emerald Boys took part in the tournament which was played before a sizeable crowd.
However, because of lack of sponsorship, there was no prize money for the winners.
Bright Emerald Boys’ Ian Dzedze, proudly donning the GD (Goal Defender) bib, was ecstatic about playing netball.
A former football player with Riverton, the goal defender said he switched pitches because netball is more disciplined than football. His passion is to play for the national men’s netball team.
“I switched to netball as this sport does not involve fighting and bullying . . . it requires a lot of discipline. It teaches humanity better than any other sport,” Dzedze said.
The tournament organiser, Stephen Chikambure, lamented the lack of sponsorship in the sport which he said was instrumental in ensuring that both boys and girls have something to do and thus are kept off the streets, from drugs and pre-marital sex.
However, the organisers are confident that the next time the tournament will be held, they will have sponsorship on board.
“We are trying to make sure that both girls and boys are kept off the streets and from crime. We are seeing that nowadays our young ones are engaging in crime, so engaging them like this will keep them busy. After training they are tired and they will have no idle time”, said Chikambure.
Brian Mazodze, the coach for Bright Emeralds, also added his voice to the need to have sponsors on board and ensure that something is done in terms of infrastructure for sport.
Recently, boys and men have ventured into netball, a formerly domain for girls and women.
Online Reporter