Online Reporter
Veronica Gwaze
Zimpapers Sports Hub
THE Zimbabwe Netball Association have stepped up preparations for a crucial set of international friendlies against Malawi and Botswana later this month.
The three-day event, scheduled for October 23, 24 and 25 in Harare, will see the country’s senior women’s team, the Gems, their development side the Zambezi Eagles, and the men’s team, the Golden Flyers, all in action.
The squads are set to regroup on October 5, with longtime sponsor Nedbank bankrolling the matches.
Head coach Ropafadzo Mutsauki says his players are primed for camp after recent club assessments.
“The team is ready to take to the court, do well and make the nation proud, including the new players whom we are also giving the opportunity to be in camp,” he said.
At least 30 women and 20 men will be called into camp before the numbers are trimmed. The technical team, led by Mutsauki and assistant Pepetua Siyachitema, will finalise squads of 15 players for major upcoming tournaments.
The friendly series is part of a wider build-up to November’s Celtic Cup in Scotland and December’s African Championships in Malawi.
Last year, the Gems clinched bronze at the inaugural Celtic Cup against Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. This year’s edition has expanded to six teams, and Zimbabwe are targeting another podium finish.
“As we regroup, our aim is to assemble a team that we believe will be good enough to compete at the coming competitions,” Mutsauki said. “Our job is to ensure that we are prepared as best as possible technically and physically so we are already down to business preparing for that.”
The continental landscape remains tough.
Malawi are ranked third in Africa behind South Africa and Uganda, while Zimbabwe sit fourth in Africa and 13th globally.
But the Gems broke new ground at last year’s African Championships in Namibia, stunning Malawi 48-42 in the bronze medal playoff after also defeating Uganda in the group stages for the first time in a decade.
