Online Reporter
Veronica Gwaze, Zimpapers Sport Hub
ZIMBABWE’S senior netball team, the Gems, are geared up for the challenge against Malawi in the four-day international friendly series, which gets underway this afternoon.
Scheduled to take place at Sunrise Sports Club, the event will also feature the Gems development side, Zambezi Eagles, and the men’s team, Golden Flyers. Malawi will be accompanied by their men’s side, while Botswana has withdrawn from the contest.
Historically, the Gems — ranked 13th in the World Netball Rankings — have played second fiddle to Malawi. However, they turned the tide at last year’s African Championships in Namibia, where they defeated their long-time rivals and also dominated Uganda, another regional powerhouse, to secure a bronze medal.
Head coach Ropafadzo Mutsauki, will be hoping to once again frustrate the neighbours and continue building the Gems’ growing legacy. This is the first time that we are playing Malawi after our historic win last year at the African Championships and we are hoping to win again.
“We are well aware that friendly games are not really about results but lessons, relations and cultural exchange among other things. However, a positive result will go a long way in boosting our confidence because remember, we have relative green horns on our team, they still lack the confidence, especially when playing these big teams,” he said.
The friendlies will serve as preparatory matches for the Gems ahead of their participation in the Celtic Cup in Scotland, scheduled for November 26–30. A week later, Malawi will host the African Championships, where they will once again face off against Zimbabwe. The broader objective for both teams is to secure the sole qualification spot for the 2027 Netball World Cup, to be held in Australia. Mutsauki believes the friendly matches will provide a valuable opportunity to assess the Gems’ rebuilding efforts on a competitive platform.
“It is very important for us to play these highly ranked sides because it gives us the highly competitive platform that we need to weigh ourselves. So far, the preparations have been going on well, no injury scares except for our captain Felisitus Kwangwa, who is out.
“We have identified two or three rising defenders to fill in her position and I believe the youngsters will step up and prove themselves against Malawi. Malawi have one of the strongest attacking thirds in the region, their shooters are very strong and it will take character for our defenders to be able to stop them.”
Defenders Kelly Muyambo, Tanaka Makusha, Nikkie Mundeya, and Elizabeth Mushore will be vying for the Goal Defender position to contain Malawi’s lethal shooter, Tendai Mashamba.
In the midcourt, returning vice-captain Claris Kwaramba and Assah Zimusi are expected to find a way to neutralise Malawi’s evergreen centre Takondwa Lwazi, widely regarded as one of the region’s top attackers.
Mutsauki emphasised that the friendlies will be a major test of character for the Zimbabwean teams.
“We must be psychologically and tactically disciplined in applying the right strategies in our games. The players must be able to stick to instruction, apply themselves correctly, which is part of what we have been working on in our sessions.
“I want to believe that all our players are in a proper state; it is very important in games of this magnitude. I believe that it is very important at national team level that instructions are transferred by the players into actions, so we are ready to look into all this in these games,” said Mutsauki.
Claris Kwaramba, who will stand in as captain for the injured Kwangwa, says the team is ready to face Malawi. The Glow Petroleum Queens player is expected to draw on her experience in Gems colours, which dates back to 2019, to lead the squad.
Kwaramba was the youngest player in the team when the Gems made their World Cup debut in Liverpool, and has since become a regular starter, gaining valuable experience over the years.
“It is a huge task when you are expected to lead the team especially when the captain is not around but I have been here for long, I have learnt the ropes. We are all in a good mood and ready to battle it out… our opponents are intimidating so we need confidence and mental strength if we are to overpower them but I know we have what it takes to win,” she said
