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Ellina Mhlanga
Senior Sports Reporter
GEMS assistant coach Tatenda Shinya says they are looking at addressing the challenge of height within the team which is one of their main concerns as they step up preparations for the 2023 Netball World Cup.
The senior national team regrouped at Prince Edward School last week for a month-long training camp.
“We started working on the fitness level. We wanted to see how they are coping in terms of fitness and it seems like everyone is equally good, equally fit to match the standard that we want here at the national team.
“All positions are our areas of concern. But our main issue is on height. We are looking on the height because height was disadvantaging (us) in the qualifiers, even in the Diamond Challenge.
“So we included some new players with a little bit of height and also in the midfield we want to include some height so that ball movement will be much easier.
“We also want to specialise on team defence. Last time we were lacking mainly on the defensive side. Not on the defensive circle but on team defence generally.
“You would see that when we lost the ball in the attacking side, the ball would flow easily. So we want to cut that supply from the opponents. So everyone should work extra hard . . . We are working on team defence from the goal shooter to the goal keeper. That’s our main concern.
“So we are pushing them hard to learn to defend even the attackers, so that they can make it into the team. If you can’t defend, and you want to attack only, it’s going to be difficult to make it,” said Shinya.
The Gems technical team led by head coach Ropafadzo Mutsauki is working with 19 players for this camp and among the few new players they have brought in is 17-year-old Nikkie Mandeya.
“Looking at the new players that we have, they are promising that they can deliver what we were lacking in the previous teams that we had. And we are now concentrating on all areas because no one has got a bib.
“We want to come up with a strong team that can give us results come the World Cup in July,” said Shinya.
Mandeya was part of the Young Gems team that won gold at the Confederation of Southern Africa Netball Associations Championships last year in Malawi together with promising goal shooter Thandazile Ndlovu, who is also in camp.
The 17-year-old, who plays wing defence, centre, goal defence and goal keeper, said she is excited to be part of the squad.
“I am very happy to be part of the squad. I am the youngest player so far in this team. I didn’t expect to be called into the senior team. I am just happy and I am enjoying being with the seniors.
“I have learnt a lot, they have been guiding me and there is still a lot to learn.
“I am expecting to keep improving and be called again in the next camp. I would really want to make the final team and play at the World Cup,” said Mandeya.
While for Mandeya it’s her first call-up, Ndlovu participated at the Spar Diamond Challenge.
The coaches have also brought in Tafadzwa Mawango, who was part of the eight players that attended the 2019 World Cup as part Zimbabwe Netball Association’s development programme.
The Gems technical team is set to drop some of the players by the end of this camp before bringing in some of the earmarked players that did not make this camp.
Shinya said bringing in the players in batches gives them a better assessment of each of the players.
“We will see on their performance. If someone fails, we have no option, we will drop them. But if they cope all of them, we are sure we will bring them back in the second camp, merge with the others who are not yet here.
“Having them all at once will not give us the real picture because it will be difficult for us to watch all the 30 players’ performance at once,” said Shinya.
The 2023 Netball World Cup is due to take place from July 28 to August 6 in Cape Town, South Africa, with 16 countries competing.
Zimbabwe are in Group A together with Australia, Fiji and Tonga.
Squad
Sharon Bwanali, Tafadzwa Matura, Patricia Mauladi, Leslie Chikozho (ZDF Queens), Paidamoyo Tinoza, Beaula Hlungwani, Tanaka Makusha (Glow Petroleum), Mitchell Muzanenamo, Nicole Muzanenamo, Thandazile Ndlovu, Nikkie Jane Mandeya (GreenFuel), Silibaziso Shumba, Elizabeth Mushore, Claris Kwaramba, Chipo Shoko (Platinum Queens), Kudakwashe Muchongwe, Tafadzwa Mawango (Correctional), Takadanaishe Assa Zimusi, Rudo Simbi (Harare City).
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