Online Reporter
Veronica Gwaze
Zimpapers Sports Hub
THE Zimbabwe senior netball team, the Gems, may have failed to secure a third successive World Cup appearance, but the new-look Gems left a huge impression on the continental stage.
They finished sixth out of 10 at the just-ended Africa Netball Cup in Nairobi, where Uganda, South Africa, Malawi, Namibia and hosts Kenya occupied the top five positions in that order. With the tournament doubling as the 2027 Netball World Cup Qualifiers, the top four nations will join 12 other powerhouses from across the world at the global showcase in Sydney, Australia next year.
For a Zimbabwean side eyeing a third straight ticket, the dream was shattered off the court.
The tournament was plunged into administrative chaos after Africa Netball abruptly scrapped the scheduled semi-finals mid-tournament, altering the qualification pathway.
The scheduled play-offs (Malawi versus Zimbabwe, Namibia versus Kenya) were called off, with Africa Netball announcing that Malawi and Namibia had automatically qualified. World Netball failed to intervene in the situation despite formal protests from aggrieved federations, denying Zimbabwe and Kenya a fair shot at the two remaining African slots.
Despite the setback, technical advisor Fred Mugerwa was impressed with how his youthful Gems adapted to the demands of the big stage.
“Our team was largely made up of new faces; some of the players were new while I had also just joined the team ahead of the qualifiers,” he said.
“Almost everyone in the team was adjusting in their own way, and everything had to happen on the big stage, so obviously it was never going to be easy.
“However, I am impressed with the progress that the team made.”
The Gems played five matches, winning just two, with a squad largely made up of new faces, some who just graduated from the developmental side, Zambezi Eagles.
For a team that was forced into a quick transition, they showed grit, structure and flashes of brilliance that suggest a bright future.
“In our young squad, someVeronica Gwaze
Zimpapers Sports Hub
THE Zimbabwe senior netball team, the Gems, may have failed to secure a third successive World Cup appearance, but the new-look Gems left a huge impression on the continental stage.
They finished sixth out of 10 at the just-ended Africa Netball Cup in Nairobi, where Uganda, South Africa, Malawi, Namibia and hosts Kenya occupied the top five positions in that order. With the tournament doubling as the 2027 Netball World Cup Qualifiers, the top four nations will join 12 other powerhouses from across the world at the global showcase in Sydney, Australia next year.
For a Zimbabwean side eyeing a third straight ticket, the dream was shattered off the court.
The tournament was plunged into administrative chaos after Africa Netball abruptly scrapped the scheduled semi-finals mid-tournament, altering the qualification pathway.
The scheduled play-offs (Malawi versus Zimbabwe, Namibia versus Kenya) were called off, with Africa Netball announcing that Malawi and Namibia had automatically qualified. World Netball failed to intervene in the situation despite formal protests from aggrieved federations, denying Zimbabwe and Kenya a fair shot at the two remaining African slots.
Despite the setback, technical advisor Fred Mugerwa was impressed with how his youthful Gems adapted to the demands of the big stage.
“Our team was largely made up of new faces; some of the players were new while I had also just joined the team ahead of the qualifiers,” he said.
“Almost everyone in the team was adjusting in their own way, and everything had to happen on the big stage, so obviously it was never going to be easy.
“However, I am impressed with the progress that the team made.”
The Gems played five matches, winning just two, with a squad largely made up of new faces, some who just graduated from the developmental side, Zambezi Eagles.
For a team that was forced into a quick transition, they showed grit, structure and flashes of brilliance that suggest a bright future.
“In our young squad, some players were getting their first taste of high-level international netball, and there was no way they would adapt that easily,” said Mugerwa.
“What I saw was encouraging; in some moments, they were technically good and didn’t look out of place against experienced sides . . . going forward, they need to work on mental strength.” For Mugerwa, the bigger picture from the tournament matters more than their final placing.
He believes that Zimbabwe have the quality, and given time they could rise to be a major force on the continent.
“Of course there was a World Cup ticket on the line, but beyond that, it’s also all about building,” he said.
“Sixth is not where we wanted to be, but the performance, discipline, and how they responded after being denied a World Cup contest chance show we are on the right path.”
Namibia head coach Julene Meyer believes the Gems have all the ingredients to return stronger next year.
She masterminded the Gems’ 47-31 defeat to Namibia, ensuring that her side snatches one of the two tickets to Sydney.
“Zimbabwe should never be underestimated; the coaches’ philosophy and the way that they structure their players is great,” she said.
“They have got everything that they need at their disposal, but it is just a matter of putting it all together and unlocking the strength in that team.” South Africa coach Jenny van Dyk admires the Gems’ style of play.
“I liked their style of play; it is fascinating and rhythmic and have such a disciplined approach to it,” she said. “Every coach wants to see how their team reacts against the Gems, and certainly they are never a team to rule out.
“They have great set-ups, but they become predictable sometimes; hence, they need to work on their depth so that they create as many combinations as possible to be able to switch play any time and remove that predictability.”
Pundits also agree that the Gems may have missed Sydney 2027, but they left Nairobi with something equally valuable, having laid the special foundation for the next Gems’ cycle. players were getting their first taste of high-level international netball, and there was no way they would adapt that easily,” said Mugerwa.
“What I saw was encouraging; in some moments, they were technically good and didn’t look out of place against experienced sides . . . going forward, they need to work on mental strength.” For Mugerwa, the bigger picture from the tournament matters more than their final placing.
He believes that Zimbabwe have the quality, and given time they could rise to be a major force on the continent.
“Of course there was a World Cup ticket on the line, but beyond that, it’s also all about building,” he said.
“Sixth is not where we wanted to be, but the performance, discipline, and how they responded after being denied a World Cup contest chance show we are on the right path.”
Namibia head coach Julene Meyer believes the Gems have all the ingredients to return stronger next year.
She masterminded the Gems’ 47-31 defeat to Namibia, ensuring that her side snatches one of the two tickets to Sydney.
“Zimbabwe should never be underestimated; the coaches’ philosophy and the way that they structure their players is great,” she said.
“They have got everything that they need at their disposal, but it is just a matter of putting it all together and unlocking the strength in that team.” South Africa coach Jenny van Dyk admires the Gems’ style of play.
“I liked their style of play; it is fascinating and rhythmic and have such a disciplined approach to it,” she said. “Every coach wants to see how their team reacts against the Gems, and certainly they are never a team to rule out.
“They have great set-ups, but they become predictable sometimes; hence, they need to work on their depth so that they create as many combinations as possible to be able to switch play any time and remove that predictability.”
Pundits also agree that the Gems may have missed Sydney 2027, but they left Nairobi with something equally valuable, having laid the special foundation for the next Gems’ cycle.
