Online Reporter
Media Mpofu, Zimpapers Sports Hub
THE Zimbabwe senior netball team, the Gems, will take to the court today at Queen Elizabeth High School in Harare as they begin a four-day international friendly series against Kenya.
These matches are far more than simple warm-ups — they form a crucial part of Zimbabwe’s preparations for two major competitions later this year: the Celtic Cup in Scotland and the Africa Netball Championships in Malawi, which will also serve as qualifiers for the 2027 Netball World Cup.
Adding further depth to the series, Zimbabwe’s development side, the Zambezi Eagles, will also feature.
They will open proceedings this afternoon against Kenya, with the Gems set to face the visitors in their first clash tomorrow.
The schedule continues until Friday, with both the senior team and the Eagles alternating fixtures throughout the series.
To sharpen their readiness, the Zimbabwe Netball Association (ZINA) has launched a high-intensity training camp at Harare Girls High School.
More than 40 athletes from both squads are currently focused on improving fitness, refining tactics, and building team cohesion. Ahead of the international tournaments, both squads will be trimmed to 15 players each.
The Gems arrive for this series buoyed by strong performances in South Africa, where they secured victories against Limpopo Baobabs, North West Flames, and reigning champions Free State Crinums.
They also earned a bronze medal at last year’s Celtic Cup and impressed at the Africa Netball Cup in Namibia.
For the Zambezi Eagles, the Kenyan challenge continues a steep learning curve.
Earlier this year, the team gained valuable experience in the Telkom Netball League in South Africa, where they faced continental heavyweights including Uganda, Malawi, and Eswatini.
ZINA has expressed gratitude for the support of official sponsor Nedbank Zimbabwe, whose backing has been instrumental in funding training camps, international tours, and the broader development pathway for Zimbabwean netball.
Fixtures
Today: Zambezi Eagles vs Kenya
August 28: Gems vs Kenya, Zambezi Eagles vs Gems
August 29: Zambezi Eagles vs Kenya
August 30: Gems vs Kenya
Bongani Ndlovu