Online Reporter
Veronica Gwaze
Zimpapers Sports Hub
ZIMBABWE Netball Association’s hopes of making a third successive World Cup appearance seem to on course following some impressive shwoings by the national teams at the recently-concluded 4-day Netball Test Series against Kenya.
The hosts fielded two teams – the Gems and their development outfit, Zambezi Eagles against the East Africans.
The Gems, as the senior team are affectionately known, showcased skills and determination, finishing the series without tasting defeat.
In their two matches, the Gems won decisively in exhilarating performance punctuated by forte and unity as a team.
Their development side, the Zambezi Eagles and Kenyan managed a victory each, while both tasted defeat once.
National coach Rofapadzo Mutsauki was impressed by his side’s performance.
He said the Gems’ consistent excellence stood out through the Test, a sign that they are ready for the forthcoming international assignments.
“Assembling a team that gives you such an impressive performance in an international Test shows that we are building something tangible here,” said Mutsauki.
“The team is largely made up of fresh blood and what stands out mostly for us as coaches is how the girls have managed to adapt. This was a highly competitive Test, Kenya played a different game altogether compared to us hence we picked a lot of lessons from this outing.
“Their game is more possession-based while ourselves is around speed and transition, after playing them, we now have an understanding of what to do when we play East African nations, further, we are now flexible.”
Mutsauki said the Gems are working on reinforcing their status as a formidable force in the region.
Their unbeaten run in the Test, he notes, also enhances their confidence as they prepare for upcoming international contests.
In November, the team is scheduled to feature at the Celtic Cup in Scotland before taking part at the African Championships in Malawi in December.
“In the Test, the players showed significant growth and readiness for the challenges that lie ahead,” he said.
“Some of the players took part in the Telkom League in South Africa in May, and from the Test we saw a lot of improvement which means that TNL paid off.
“At this stage, I have belief in the team’s competency, their hard work and dedication is paying off.
“Their ability to take instruction is also immense, what we did in training and discussed in team talk, they translated to the match.”
As the Gems set their sights on the 2027 World Cup, the positive outcomes from this test series serve as a strong foundation for their aspirations.
Mutsauki working closely with Zambezi Eagles coach Perpetua Siyachitema, who is also his assistant in the national side, used the Series to assess player-combinations and gauge the team’s overall preparedness.
