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Ellina Mhlanga-Senior Sports Reporter
ZIMBABWE senior netball team assistant coach Tapiwa Chirenda is confident of the ground covered as the countdown for the Vitality Netball World Cup 2023 continues.
The Nedbank-sponsored Gems will be appearing at the World Cup for the second time and know what to expect at this level.
They have been in camp for close to a month now and Chirenda believes they have done most of the work.
They shifted their training sessions from Girls High School to City Sports Centre last week.
“I think things are progressing quite well from what I am observing as a coach. We are lucky enough that we have managed to secure these facilities to train on the wooden surface, which is exactly the kind of the court that these girls will be using.
“It’s actually an advantage for them I think that they have managed to acclimatise whilst we are still at home.
“I understand we are going to be playing a few friendly games before (the tournament) and we will be playing on the same surface. So it will get us geared.
“Plus the environment, this enclosed environment, the echoes and everything, the noise they get used to that,” said Chirenda.
“I think the challenge we still have is we are still waiting for the other players, the foreign-based players to come in into camp.
“But so far so good, I think they are playing as a unit, the players are improving quite well, you can see offensively and defensively they are becoming quite a good unit. I think now it’s just polishing up and waiting for the other players to come into camp and gel together.
“But basically the main things that we needed to work on, I think we have done so. Now it’s just polishing up, we are playing the game situation a lot more often than the training where we try to correct stuff, now we are just correcting as they play.”
He is also confident they have the height this time around.
“Our height this time, I think we are going to match any given team at any given day except maybe Jamaica… I think this time height is not a factor,” said Chirenda.
Gems manager Agnes Chiroodza confirmed Gems captain Felisitus Kwangwa is now in the country and was expected to join camp late yesterday.
Australia-based shooters Nalani Makunde and Joice Takaidza are expected to arrive on July 11 and 14 respectively.
“We were expecting them first week of July but unfortunately they had other logistics that delayed them. Nalani, we are expecting her on the 11th. Definitely on the 11th she will be here as well as Joice on the 14th,” said Chiroodza.
Defender Sharleen Makusha, who will be making her second appearance at the World Cup believes they are in a better position going into the forthcoming World Cup since they have been there before.
“So far so good, we are all working hard. There is a bit of difference in terms of the preparation this time around, getting this facility to train indoors and almost the same surface as the one we will be playing on at the World Cup, it really helps.
“We also have experience because some of the players have been there before and it’s an advantage unlike when you are competing at this level for the first time,” said Makusha.
Director sport and recreation in the Ministry of Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation, Eugenia Chidhakwa and, Sports and Recreation Commission director sport and recreation development Sebastian Garikai visited the team during their training session at City Sports Centre yesterday.
“As the sports and recreation department with the parastatal, the Sports and Recreation Commission, it is important to come and see the girl child, to come and psyche them up, to see the preparation, how the preparations are going,” said Chidhakwa.
The Gems are today and tomorrow expected to play a number of matches with the men’s teams including a national select side.
Gems Team
Joice Takaidza, Tafadzwa Matura, Sharon Bwanali, Nalani Makunde, Nicole Muzanenamo, Beaula Hlungwani, Claris Kwaramba (vice-captain), Progress Moyo, Felisitus Kwangwa (captain), Takadanaishe Zimusi, Elizabeth Mushore, Sharleen Makusha.
Reserves
Ursula Ndlovu, Paidamoyo Tinoza, Tafadzwa Mawango.
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