Chronicle Editor
Mandla Ncube, Sports Reporter
THE Rainbow Netball League (RNL) got off to a thrilling start last weekend but for Goldreef it was a day they wanted to quickly forget.
Every team has its day and Saturday afternoon as it turned out was not Goldreef’s day seeing that they succumbed to a seven-point defeat to last season’s runners up Platinum Queens in Zvishavane.
Beginning the season on a not so good a note, Goldreef coach, Samuel Riyano, was left ruing the little details that saw his side lose their season opener.
“This loss wasn’t really much of a blow, instead the players were very happy about their performance and mentally it has rather made them hungrier and they are looking forward to their next match. We made a few mistakes that proved to be too costly,” he added.
With previous seasons expectations having been considerable low, the weight of expectation this season has increased with last season’s respectable league table finish giving Riyano and his charges reason to believe.
“This season has a lot of expectations for us and if we are to consider the way we finished last season we were really on fire and I expect nothing less than continuing from the rich vein of form we left off last year,” said Riyano.
Given the youthful nature of the team, with last season’s Rookie of the Year winner, Nicole Muzanenhamo still the player to watch in Goldreef’s roster, Riyano says with the youngster more grounded more is yet to come from her.
“She is such a sensation, so inspirational for the team, we have even gone as far as calling her the ‘Energiser’ because she is so full of energy, we are looking forward to her bringing in more accolades because she is really on another level.”
Online Reporter