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Ellina Mhlanga
Senior Sports Reporter
ZIMBABWE Handball Federation technical director Farai Gwisai says the door remains open for new faces in the junior (Under-20) men’s team expected to compete at the International Handball Federation Trophy Continental Phase Africa later this year.
The junior men’s team qualified for the continental phase when they won the IHF Challenge Trophy Zone VI this month.
The team is expected to troop into camp in Harare on June 5 for their first periodic camp that will run until June 9.
Gwisai said the camp will see them bringing in a few more players as they would want to strengthen the team in various aspects including addressing the issue of height.
“At the moment the plan is to have extensive training. They are starting their camp on the 5th of June. They should be in camp for practice.
“We are on search again because we need taller players. So, we are calling all players that think they can make the grade to come also to that camp so that we assess them to see if they have potential.”
The team will be under the guidance of Tafadzwa Madure.
This is the second time in a row the junior team has qualified for the continental event having achieved the same feat in 2022 when they beat Zambia in the final.
However, in the previous edition, they found the going tough as they returned home without a single win.
The tournament featured six countries – Guinea, Madagascar, Nigeria, Rwanda, Zimbabwe, and hosts Congo. The matches were played in a round-robin format.
“We are having all experts coming to assist even the technical director will be present to make sure that we equip our players to get to the highest level as much as we can.
“And also, we need to look for friendly matches with competent teams like, for instance, if we can get Angola, it would be a good part of the preparations. But now resources will be a challenge for us.
“We need to look at the tactics of the game; that’s the main thrust. The speed of the game and also the strategies, the play. We are going to improve the play so that we match that level.
“The issue of the size of the players and the tactics need to improve,” said Gwisai.
Speaking after the regional tournament, Madure emphasised the need for friendly games.
“Judging from the experience when we first went for the continental phase, I think the team needs to have more and more friendlies.
“We need to be playing against big teams so that we can get exposure. The thing now is other countries out there have leagues for the junior teams like Under-20s,” said Madure.
The official dates and venue for the continental tournament will be announced in due course. So far, indications are that it is likely to take place in Tunisia from September 17 to 27.
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