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Veronica Gwaze recently in PRETORIA, South Africa
THE Zimbabwe senior national netball team had to write their own piece of history as they qualified for the Netball World Cup for the second time on the trot.
To secure a late 2023 Netball World Cup ticket at the just-ended regional qualifiers, the Gems defeated perennial rivals Zambia 59-41 in a crucial decisive encounter at the University of Pretoria in Pretoria, South Africa, on Saturday.
Malawi had already grabbed the first ticket when they made it into the finals at the tournament to settle for silver while the hosts South Africa won gold.
In their six outings, the Ropafadzo Mutsauki-coached Zimbabwe charges won four to also grab four player-of-the-match awards.
Despite a recent rebuilding exercise that gave a new-look to the Gems, the team gave off some spectacular performances.
This time around, the team had some depth.
“We had a team of 15 players and to come up with the last 12 who would take part at the tournament was not an easy task because all of them were equally good,” said coach Mutsauki.
“We tried to give all of them some game-time considering that we have a lot of youngsters who still need experience so we rotated them whenever the game permitted.”
The rotations, he said, were also part of the strategy to confuse the opponents.
“Every coach studies the opponent and takes notes so that when they go back to the drawing board they know how best to prepare for you.
“When then you rotate players like that, switching from one combination and strategy to another you leave them confused.”
Although he is basking in glory after the World Cup qualification, a delighted Mutsauki notes that the global showcase preparations have to promptly resume.
He called for more international friendly games to give the Gems the miuch-needed international exposure and experience.
Having been at the Netball World Cup in 2019 in Liverpool, England, as an assistant coach to Lloyd Makunde, Mutsauki said if they are to make an impact at the global stage next year, adequate preparations are key.
“We learnt a lot during the last World Cup, there are areas that we need to largely focus on, like fitness and tactics because this will be a different level altogether, it will be a show of class.
“The girls are still ecstatic so we have to start working on them while they are still in that mood, obviously such preparations are intense so the youngsters need enough time,” Mutsauki said.
The Zimbabwe Netball Association president, Leticia Chipandu, hailed the team for a remarkable show which put the country on the global map.
She said the latest achievement is an indication of the potential that netball has in putting Zimbabwe on the global spotlight.
In 2017, under her leadership, the Young Gems also marked their maiden World Cup appearance in Botswana.
“It means as netball and as an association, we are doing something right and we are happy that the results are there for all of us to see,” she said.
“Our wish is that we prepare for the World Cup in time. However, for that to be possible, we need the resources, we look forward to more support from the corporates to complement what the Government, Spar Zimbabwe , our partner, and others have been doing.”
Captain Felisitus Kwangwa paid tribute to her charges for raising the national flag high and marketing the Gems brand.
Kwangwa, who now plies her trade at English club Surrey Storm, emphasised on the importance of the World Cup to budding players.
Online Reporter