Online Reporter
Ellina Mhlanga
Zimpapers Sports Hub
ZIMBABWE Under-20 women’s handball team coach Sipho Mahlangu says the upcoming camp scheduled for this weekend gives them a chance to assess the provisional squad selected last year for the International Handball Federation Trophy Zone VI.
Zimbabwe won the bid to host the women’s event after successfully staging the men’s competition last year. The regional tournament is due to take place from April 28 to May 4.
Zimbabwe Handball Federation are still finalising the logistical issues to be able to host the event.
However, provisional squads are already in place. They are expected to meet in Harare from Friday to Sunday to kick-start their build-up for the tournament.
Mahlangu is in charge of the junior side (Under-20) and Ozwell Gono leads the youth (Under-18).
“Our plan since the beginning of the year has been to have at least the initial training camp with the provisional squad.
“We would like to assess them to see what we have, what we need to do, what the weaknesses are, and what we need to work on as we prepare for the games.
“We selected over 30 girls with two selection camps in Harare and in Bulawayo.
“These are the girls that we now want to put together and assess and then see the way forward in terms of their technical and tactical abilities,” said Mahlangu.
With two months to go before the competition, Mahlangu would want to have more time with the players considering they will be up against some of the best teams in the region.
“The plan is that with this initial camp, we have our final provisional squad and then we have periodic camps before the final camp.
“Maybe we have a longer camp towards the games, maybe for a fortnight or so before the games if possible. If not, then a week.
“But before that, our plan is to have weekend training camps like this one. But at the same time, the players are given programmes to work on from their different bases, so that it’s continuous.
“But it will depend on the federation. It depends on the availability of funds.”
Zimbabwe will be hoping for a better show this time around.
In the previous edition, only the junior team took part, where they missed out on medals after coming fourth.
Gono, who is in charge of the youth team, said being their first time having all the players in one place, they have a lot of work to do.
“Initially we had selected a provisional squad which had 30 players. This camp we are hoping to then get the final squad that we will be working with until we get to the games.
“For this camp, mainly we are going to be focusing on the players’ fitness levels because that’s a major area we need to focus on, on our players.
“It will be their first time meeting, having all the players together from around Zimbabwe. So, we plan to have a final squad from that camp if we get enough time,” Gono said.
The junior men’s team have done relatively well in the last two editions hosted here, winning the regional event twice while the youth side also finished second twice.
