GEMS CHASE RANKINGS

Veronica Gwaze

Zimpapers Sports Hub

THE Gems are aiming to end their long stay on the 13th spot of the World Netball Rankings when they compete at the Celtic Cup in Scotland later this month.

The tournament, set for November 26 to 30 at Glasgow’s Emirates Arena, features hosts Scotland, Northern Ireland, Wales, and invited sides Zimbabwe, Uganda and Namibia.

This year’s edition will, for the first time, count towards the World Netball Rankings.

For years, the Gems have been locked in 13th position, with Australia, New Zealand, England, and South Africa occupying the top four.

Head coach Ropafadzo Mutsauki sees this competition as the team’s best chance to climb the ladder.“We are taking this tournament seriously because it has a bearing on rankings, so we do not want to jeopardise our chances of moving up,” said Mutsauki. “For long we have been stuck on position 13 due to various reasons and now we stand a chance to earn points and make a move.”

Before the Celtic Cup, Zimbabwe will tour the United Kingdom, taking on Wales on November 22 and 23. A 12-player squad is already in camp at Queen Elizabeth Girls High School, chosen from a pool of about 30 players who featured in recent friendlies against Kenya and Malawi.

“The friendly games helped us come up with what we felt was the best team,” Mutsauki said.

“Now the small group allows the technical team to refine our strategies and understand each player’s strengths and weaknesses.

“It also enables us to manage the team more effectively and address specific areas for improvement.” After the Celtic Cup, the Gems will head to Malawi for the African Championships, a tournament that also contributes to global rankings and World Cup qualification. The long-term goal is to secure the continent’s lone slot for the 2027 Netball World Cup in Australia.In a boost to their squad, the Zimbabwe Netball Association are finalising arrangements for UK based goal shooter Nalani Makunde to join the team in Scotland.

“We are making arrangements to have her in Scotland because this is a crucial moment for us, considering that rankings and World Cup qualification are involved,” said Mutsauki.

“Locally, we just regrouped, and from the look of it, our players’ fitness levels are not bad since they were active in the league. We are still assessing them to see exactly where we stand as a team.”

While Mutsauki is optimistic, he acknowledges that the Gems’ progress has been hampered by limited participation in ranking tournaments, unlike nations that compete more regularly in major events such as the Commonwealth Games.

However, the team’s new partnership with Nedbank has raised hopes of more frequent international exposure.“The African Championships and the Celtic Cup are insufficient for our growth. We need more competitions to earn points and improve our rankings,” said Mutsauki.

Squad

Prudence Sibanda, Ursula Ndlovu, Thandekile Mahlangu, Kelly Muyambo, Nikki Mundeya, Takadanaishe Zimusi, Nicole Muzanenhamo, Sharon Bwanali, Sharleen Makusha, Claris Kwaramba, Anifa Luya, Thandazile Ndlovu.