Online Reporter
Lovemore Dube, [email protected]
THE Nedbank Premier Netball League will play its first ever bubble at Gokwe’s Cheziya High School today.
This will be the first time that games are hosted in rural Midlands at this level.
The hosting of the bubble there, is a clear indication of the Zimbabwe Netball Association and Nedbank which seeks to take the game to all the corners of the country.
“This is a giant leap and demonstrates the Premier Netball League’s commitment to taking the game to every corner of Zimbabwe regardless of whether it is rural or urban. Zhombe Chibs founded by Brian Chibaya, an ardent sports lover who played for Zisco and grew up exposed to a lot of mining sport activity while at Redcliff, has always had a dream of uplifting the girl child.
“Netball is a sport in which most girls grow up exposed to, so we resolved to facilitate that the girls from Gokwe and Zhombe get a chance to play the sport at a semi-professional level hoping to open up avenues for others,” said Chibaya at the beginning of the year after the team made its Premiership debut.
On Wednesday he was ecstatic.
“We have achieved part of our mission on why we started the team and decided to join the Premier League. Our daughters will be able to watch the game at its best with the best players in the country in action. We are delighted,” said Chibaya
Innocent Ndiya, the spokesperson of the Nedbank Premiership, expressed delight at the prospect of having the games played at Cheziya at the weekend.
“This has always been the League’s intention to spread the game, get the girl child excited, and take pride in what has traditionally been her sport. We are looking forward to good games and a new vibe catching on in Gokwe and Zhombe. We are excited about the latest development, which augurs well with our dream of saying many girls making a living out of playing and coaching netball,” said Ndiya.
The Gokwe games will be one of three bubbles with the other two being matches at Aspindale and other being hosted by Imbizo Queens at White City Stadium.
In the Bulawayo bubble, Imbizo Queens will clash with BBS College in a city derby.
Some teams will be without star players because of commitments with the national team in Kenya, where the country is bidding to qualify for the 2027 World Cup.
Fifth-placed Makate High Fliers will be without Kelly Muyambo who is with the Gems in Kenya at the World Cup qualifiers, Elizabeth Bwalya who plays for Zambia and Lydia Nyapere who is a Kenyan international.
Also to miss weekend action for her club is Progress Chigumba of Harare City, Beaular Dare and Anifa Luya of Zimbabwe Defence Forces, Chapungu’s Prisca Mpofu, Lubelihle Khumalo and Takadanaishe Zimusi who are away with the Gems.
Aspindale Bubble (Tendai Hall, Harare)
Zimsmart Nyanga v Makate High Fliers, Aspindale v Mutoko Correctional Stars, Mutare City v Harare District, Makate High Fliers v Mutare City, Mutoko Correctional Stars v Zimsmart Nyanga,
Harare District v Aspindale, Mutare City v Mutoko Correctional, Zimsmart Nyanga v Harare District, Aspindale v Makate High Fliers
Chibs Queens Bubble
(Cheziya High School, Gokwe)
ZDF Queens v Harare City, Beitbridge Border Stars v P Stars, Buffaloes v Harare City, Harare City v Beitbridge Border Stars, ZDF Queens v P Stars, Beitbridge Border Stars v Zhombe Chibs,
Buffaloes v P Stars, ZDF Queens v Zhombe Chibs, Buffaloes v Zhombe Chibs
Imbizo Queens Bubble (White City)
Tongogara v Imbizo Queens, Ligi Dolphins v Black Rhinos, Chapungu Queens v BBS College, Imbizo Queens v Black Rhinos, BBS College v Ligi Dolphins, Tongogara v Chapungu Queens, Ligi Dolphins v Tongogara, Imbizo Queens v BBS College, Chapungu Queens v Black Rhinos
