Online Reporter
Veronica Gwaze in NAIROBI, Kenya
DESPITE settling for sixth place at the Africa Netball Cup in Nairobi, Kenya, the Gems’ 57-63 defeat to the hosts in their final game of the tournament on Saturday was arguably the major entertainer of the showcase.
For two sides let down by the tournament’s governing body when denied an opportunity to contest the Netball World Cup qualifiers, Zimbabwe and Kenya needed to vent their frustrations.
And the only place to do so was on the Kasarani court yesterday in the battle for fifth and sixth place at the Africa Cup-cum-World Cup qualifiers.
The contest came a day after the two sides were left dejected when Africa Netball changed the format midway through the tournament, declaring that Malawi and Namibia, who finished top of their groups, had automatically qualified for the 2027 World Cup.
The move meant Zimbabwe, who were supposed to face Malawi, and Kenya, who were to play Namibia in the qualifier play-offs, were denied an opportunity to fight for the two World Cup tickets.
Only left with the Africa Cup to focus on, yesterday the two nations were offered a chance to vent after a tumultuous day that left both feeling short-changed.
The match was tightly contested in the opening minutes, each side fighting for possession, converting their centre pass and waiting to pounce on the opposition’s error to force a turnover.
The battle was won in the mid-court, but Zimbabwe showed superiority and why they have been to the World Cup twice on the trot.
By the 10th minute, Gems seized control forcing successive turnovers in the defensive third to convert on second-phase ball taking the tally to 16-10 by the first-quarter break.
Returning from the break, both sides maintained their intensity, with the Gems refusing to surrender their six-goal cushion.
Gems goal shooter Thandazile Ndhlovu and her Kenyan counterpart Lydia Nyapere became the X-factors at either end, clinical inside the shooting circle making sure to maximise on their respective feeds.
At the back, goalkeeper Kelly Muyambo was deployed to tame Nyapere, a familiar match-up, with the two set to draw on club lessons from the Premier Netball League where they both feature for Makate Highflyers.
Muyambo worked hard to shut down the baseline drive and deny the high lob to the lanky shooter.
By the half-time break, the scoreboard read 26-22 in favour of the Gems.Zimbabwe rang the changes in the second half, introducing Elizabeth Mushore at goalkeeper in search of height and elevation against Nyapere.
Muyambo shifted to goal defence while Assah Zimusi took charge at wing defence to cut supply into the Kenyan shooting circle.
The changes lifted the intensity and tempo, with Zimbabwe making quick transitions through the transverse line while forcing Kenya to chase the game.
Centre Beaular Dhaure became central to controlling the tempo, steadying the centre, linking defence to attack and ensuring Zimbabwe did not concede possession through unforced errors.
The Gems lost concentration in patches, allowing Kenya to claw back and reduce the deficit to one goal, before a defensive shake-up brought them back into contention to take a 38-34 lead by the end of the third quarter.
The fourth quarter became a turning point for Kenya despite Zimbabwe remaining defensive.
The Gems had to survive a revived Kenya to force a 49-49 draw at the end of regulation time, taking the match to extra time – seven minutes a side.
It became a pound-for-pound affair in the early minutes before Kenya got successive turnovers to give themselves a two-point buffer.
Changes at centre, Anifa Luya coming in for Dhaure, did not save the situation as the Gems eventually suffered a heartbreaking 57-63 defeat and settled for sixth position in the continental cup.
“It was a tough battle, in fact looking at the whole tournament it was never going to be easy considering that we brought a relatively young squad who still need experience,” said coach Tatenda Shinya.
“The match against Kenya was a real test, they pushed us to the edge and I think that was good especially for mental strength… now we go back home and work on the areas that we identified.”
