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Ellina Mhlanga
Senior Sports Reporter
ZIMBABWE senior women’s netball team assistant coach Tatenda Shinya says the Gems are on track as they intensify their drills in the build-up to the Vitality Netball World Cup.
The Gems are set to make their second successive appearance at the Vitality Netball World Cup to be staged in Cape Town, South Africa from July 28 to August 6.
They engaged the men’s side for some friendly games over the weekend at Girls High School.
Shinya said the positive attitude displayed by the players has been encouraging and they are making notable progress.
“The morale is high in camp. Everyone is giving maximum effort and they are pushing each other to the limit with a lot of commitment, a lot of team work among themselves, which gives us less pressure in training.
“The attitude is quite okay. Everyone is eager to represent their country . . . So far we have managed to play friendlies with the boys’ teams.
“We played four games. On Saturday it was like a one sided affair with the Gems dominating. But on Sunday our first game was a little bit tough. We managed to win by six scores but in the afternoon we managed to beat them by a good margin.
“It shows the scoring rate is quite okay and also the defensive side is quite okay. So now we just want to work more on combinations, so that the team gels for the World Cup,” said Shinya.
The Gems are expected to leave for South Africa on July 20.
They are expected to take on England, Barbados, Scotland and Wales in friendly matches from July 23 to July 26.
“We have a few days to come up with the final team, so we need to work tirelessly so that we select the best.
“I think it’s of paramount importance playing the male side because even the Australians are not fitter than the boys’ teams. So it’s good for us to play the boys’ teams because physically and mentally they prepare us well compared to the ladies’ teams, though it will be good to have friendlies.
“But it’s also good that we are going to have friendlies earlier in South Africa in preparation. So these guys push us to the limit, and the good thing is the guys are coming to beat us not only to play with us. And they are giving us the much needed competition,” said Shinya.
The Gems assistant coach said they are going to play the men’s side regularly during this camp.
Gems vice-captain Claris Kwaramba, who joined the squad on Sunday said there is a lot of competition in camp as players hope to make the final team.
“I believe it’s every netballer’s wish to play at the World Cup and it’s the highest level for netball. So everybody wants to make it including myself, so I am praying and I am doing my best to make the team.
“I think I have to work very hard, everybody is performing very well and if I don’t give it my best I will not make it into the final team,” Kwaramba said.
Zimbabwe is one of the four African countries that will compete at the 16-team tournament that is held after every four years.
The other African nations that will be in Cape Town are Uganda, Malawi and South Africa.
Zimbabwe are up against Australia, Tonga and Fiji in Pool A.
Pool B is made up of England, Malawi, Scotland and Barbados while Jamaica, South Africa, Wales and Sri Lanka make up Pool C. Defending champions New Zealand, Uganda, Trinidad and Tobago, and Singapore will clash in Pool D in the preliminary stages of the tournament.
leeroy
Online Reporter