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Veronica Gwaze, Sports Reporter
ZIMBABWE senior men’s netball team’s hopes of making it to the 2024 Men Netball World Cup hang in the balance.
It is almost six months since they qualified for the global showcase, yet there seem to be no preparations for the team to appear at the prestigious tournament.
The Golden Gems won the slot in December in Botswana when they finished the African Championships second, behind champions South Africa.
At its 13th edition, the regional contest, for the first time brought men’s teams together to fight for silverware under the Africa Men’s Netball Cup banner.
Resultantly, Zimbabwe and South Africa are expected to join six others from across the globe to battle it out for the world title in Jamaica between August 29 and September 1.
However, as the clock counts down preparations for the team to mark their maiden appearance at the Men’s World Cup have not resumed.
Zimbabwe Netball Association president Leticia Chipandu said the netball mother body is making frantic efforts to find funding for the team.
Camp, she added, has been provisionally scheduled for Girls High School although dates are yet to be announced.
“We intend to have them travel to Jamaica but currently our coffers are dry and this has been the biggest impediment so far,” she said.
“The association is running around to see if we can get something for the team but as things stand, we are not promising anything.”
However, indications are that there has not been proper communication between ZINA and men’s netball.
This has left a disgruntled men’s netball ensemble in the dark regarding the global showcase.
“This is exactly how things unfolded when we went for the African Championships; they promised to cover for us the same way they would do the ladies team, only to dump us at the last minute,” said a men’s netball executive member.
“We had to find our way to Botswana, each player funded themselves and we travelled by public transport while well-wishers came to our rescue on accommodation.
“We are excited that our team travelled but we could not go public about it, ahead of the association and even now, we are waiting for them.”
In Botswana, the Tapiwa Chirenda-led side had to be rescued by Gems Captain Felisitus Kwangwa and shooter Joice Takaidza who is also the Men’s Netball League Zimbabwe patron.
“The league is also battling financial issues, we have no sponsor so the athletes fund themselves on all match days,” said a member of MNLZ.
“We also pay the match officials from our own pockets so we resorted to playing league games only once a month.
“On the particular weekend, all teams converge at one venue and play several matches.”
Online Reporter