Harare dominates handball tournament

Nkosilathi Sibanda, [email protected]

HARARE handball teams proved a force to reckon with, as the province’s players finished well to be crowned champions of the inaugural Zimbabwe Handball Association (ZHF) inter-provincial challenge on Saturday at the University of Zimbabwe grounds.

Provinces that took part were Harare, Mashonaland West, Manicaland, Masvingo, Midlands, Mashonaland East and Mashonaland Central.
Bulawayo and Matabeleland South provinces failed to take part and this could have heavily cost their players a good chance to be seen and compete for honours at a bigger stage.

In the finals Harare men’s team beat Manicaland 22-21, in a match separated by a slight margin and described as a tight contest. In the women’s match, Harare trounced Mashonaland West.

The inter-provincial challenge was the first major competition organised by ZHF, from which players for the national teams were selected.  The immediate task for the ZHF was to prepare the handball national team for the upcoming All-Africa Games, scheduled for Ghana in March next year.
ZHF secretary-general, Edson Chiworodza told Zimpapers Sports Hub that they were happy to have successfully staged the tournament.

“This was a milestone of an event because we organised the first ever clash of provincial select teams in the history of football in the country.

“We, as the Zimbabwe Handball Association, would like to thank all stakeholders who came to support the tournament. For starters, all went well and we are happy to have pulled it off.

“What is left for now is to help select good players for the national team and to also prepare well for international tournaments that come ahead,” said Chiworodza.

“If it was not for the hard work and dedication by the teams, this tournament was not going to be a success. Their continued support makes the whole sport of handball in the country tick.

“The gratitude is not complete if we do not make a special mention to some of our sponsors such as Active Sport, who did well to see the day through.”

In its preparations for international tournaments, earlier in July the ZHF got a shot in the arm when they partnered Pakistani sports equipment company, Ihsan International. The company made a commitment to clothe national teams with Ihsan branded kits and training equipment as well.
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