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Innocent Kurira, Sports Reporter
ZIMBABWE netball team coach, Ropafadzo Mutsauki feels his side received a fair draw for the 2023 Netball World Cup which will be held in Cape Town, South Africa in July next year.
The Gems have been drawn into group A of the 2023 Netball World Cup where they will face Tonga, Fiji and eleven-time champions Australia.
A draw confirming the 16 participating teams was held in East London, South Africa on Wednesday night. Hosts South Africa are in Pool C paired alongside Jamaica, Wales, and Sri Lanka.
Pool B is made up of England, Malawi, Scotland and Barbados and the last group will see New Zealand face off against Uganda, Singapore, and Trinidad & Tobago.
The 2023 Netball World Cup will take place in Cape Town from July 28 to August 6. Held every four years, it will be the first time that the Netball World Cup is taking place on African soil.
“It’s a fair draw. The only team that we do not know well in the group is Fiji. We will need to do massive research on them. We know what Australia and Togo can do and we are aware of what we need to do to outmanoeuvre them.
“What is critical now is that we have to work extra hard if we are to go beyond the group. Playing friendly matches against the top sides will be key. Even if we lose those games, we would have gained vast experience which will be critical in our quest to be a competitive side at the global showpiece,” said Mutsauki.
Zimbabwe qualified for the global showpiece for the second time after they finished third, behind Malawi and South Africa during the World Cup qualifiers in Pretoria, South Africa.
The first round of tickets for the 2023 Netball World Cup will go on sale from next week Monday.
The prestigious event, broadcast live around the world, was attended by provincial and national government officials, the board of directors of NWC2023, representatives of World Netball, Netball South Africa, sponsors, partners and the general public. — @innocentskizoe
Online Reporter