tawandamusarurwa
Veronica Gwaze
WITH just four months before the 2023 Netball World Cup, Zimbabwe star player Ursula Ndlovu is facing the grim possibility of missing out on the showpiece in Cape Town, South Africa.
After having some health complications earlier in the year, Ndlovu — one of the veterans of the last World Cup in Liverpool, England, in 2019 — had to undergo a major surgery. She may not fully recover in time for camp. The Gems are expected to regroup this month to step up preparations for the sporting extravaganza, which will run between July 28 and August 6.
African sides South Africa, Uganda, Malawi and Zimbabwe will join 12 other nations from across the globe. However, it is the prospect of missing out that has left Ndlovu heartbroken.
“Currently, I am grounded and by March, I may not be back on court. The doctors insist that I need more time before I start taking it lightly.
“If I do not make it into camp in time, then chances are that I will not feature at the World Cup,” she said. The player has grown to be a vital cog in the Gems fold because of her confidence, fine ball control, attacking prowess, endurance and grit. She is usually trusted with the bib in high-pressure games.
Given that the Gems do not have easy opponents at the World Cup, coach Ropafadzo Mutsauki would have loved all his seasoned players to be available.
Zimbabwe will be facing 11-time World champions Australia in their opening Pool A match, before taking on Fiji and Tonga.
The Gems need to finish in the top three in their pool to proceed to the next round.
“After our first appearance at the global encounter in 2019, I feel we are not far from the giants’ type of play. “We have all the potential in our team. The girls, however, need to be in the game mentally as well,” said Mutsauki.
“We are going into the opening match as underdogs; we need all the mental strength and to understand that this is going to be a good platform to perfect our setup before taking on Fiji and Tonga.”
Although the team is not yet in camp, Mutsauki and his staff have already started working on their game plan.
“Australia do not have tall players, which should work to our advantage, so, against them, we simply have to improve on speed, defend as a team to cut supply for their shooters and also ensure that our shooters convert all the chances they get,” he said.
If Ndlovu does not recover in time for the tournament, Mutsauki has a fall-back position.
ZDF Queens’ star Tafadzwa Matura, Platinum Queens’ Chipo Shoko and rising goal attacker Nicole Muzanenhamo are options.
United Kingdom-based shooter Joice Takaidza is expected to jet in for camp soon.
“Ndlovu has the confidence and she performs perfectly under pressure, so we needed her, but we have to listen to doctors’ instructions, then decide from that,” added Mutsauki.
“We have active netball leagues; the talent is vast and I am sure we are going to come up with the best possible squad.”
World Cup Groups
A: Zimbabwe, Australia, Tonga, Fiji
B: England, Malawi, Scotland, Barbados
C: Jamaica, South Africa, Wales, Sri Lanka
D: New Zealand, Uganda, Trinidad and Tobago,
Singapore
Online Reporter