Online Reporter
Veronica Gwaze
Zimpapers Sports Hub
THE Zimbabwe senior women’s netball team have high hopes of a third successive World Cup appearance.
The Gems were handed a favourable qualifying route in the draw for the qualifiers.
They are in Group One where they need to shrug off competition against South Africa, Kenya, Botswana and Nigeria. Group Two will be made up of Uganda, Malawi, Namibia, Zambia and Tanzania.
The 2027 World Cup Qualifiers, which will also serve as the African Championships, are pencilled for Nairobi, Kenya, from September 19 to 26 at the Kasarani Indoor Arena.
While Zimbabwe are in the same group with giants South Africa, the neighbours together with Group Two’s Uganda already qualified for the World Cup hence they play the African contest for regional prestige. Gems coach Ropafadzo Mutsauki described the group as balanced. “It’s a fair group which will, however, depend on us having enough time to prepare. That’s the basis of everything,” Mutsauki said.
“We are already in camp about five weeks left for the qualifiers and the preparations are progressing well.”
Closely, the group presents a stern examination for the Gems. Shooters Thandazile Ndhlovu and Sharon Bwanali, and defenders Tanaka Makusha, Nikkie Mundeya, Felisitus Kwangwa together with Claris Kwaramba will not be available.
Ndhlovu, who earned a job as a Prison Officer, is currently undertaking Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services training, and cannot be released.
The trio of Makusha, Mundeya and Kwangwa have been ruled out due to injury while Bwanali and Kwaramba are on maternity leave.
Mutsauki will have to dig into the national development side, the Zambezi Eagles, for more selection options. “It will be a relatively new-look squad, some familiar faces are missing due to reasons beyond us so we have to make do with those available,” he said.
“With regards to who will be picked, all I can say is that everyone will be considered because it’s a national team and those who impress will make it.
“The good thing is that the Zambezi Eagles always trained with the Gems; it’s almost one team, so we still have a good team to select from.”
