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Ellina Mhlanga-Senior Sports Reporter
ZIMBABWE’S senior netball team coach Ropafadzo Mutsauki says they still need to work on some critical areas ahead of their opening match at the Netball World Cup that gets underway on Friday in Cape Town, South Africa.
The global show-piece being staged on African soil for the first time is running until August 6.
The Nedbank-sponsored Gems had their first friendly game on Sunday when they took on England and lost 64-36.
They are scheduled to face Barbados today in another friendly match.
Mutsauki said despite the loss in Sunday’s game, the team gave a good account of themselves and they also picked some areas that they need to work on including their defence before the World Cup competition begins.
“I think the team played well yesterday (Sunday) and I am happy with their overall performance. I think we defended well as a team.
“And I think we must keep on working on our defence so that we continue to reduce the number of scores against because if we can improve in that area and utilise our centre passes, I think we can pull through the first round.
“I am also expecting us to work protecting the ball, I think patience pays. When we have the ball we should be able to protect the ball so that we utilise our scoring chances because if we do not utilise our centre passes it will cost us. We will remain under pressure and at the end our defence loses hope.
“So far so good and we will continue working with team defence and also protecting our ball and patience. We need to keep on emphasising on those aspects,” said Mutsauki.
Tomorrow they face Wales in their last friendly game.
Zimbabwe are in Pool A together with 11-time champions Australia, Fiji and Tonga.
They get their campaign underway on Friday when they face Australia in their opening game.
Zimbabwe will then take on Fiji on Saturday and Tonga on Sunday to wrap-up their Pool A matches.
The Gems left for Cape Town last Thursday and the team was in high spirits as they make their second successive appearance at the World Cup.
Gems captain Felisitus Kwangwa said the positive attitude in camp is what they need.
“I can say I always love playing the best teams, individually, and I believe everyone (feels) the same in the team and that’s where we can see where we are as a team.
“The competition is there, so for us being there at the World Cup it means we are almost of the same calibre as Australia. I am not being over ambitious . . . but that’s what it means.
“So we are there to compete. So I think the attitude that the team has, like the energy that they have is what we really need for such a big tournament,” said Kwangwa.
In other Pools, England are up against Malawi, Scotland and Barbados in Pool B.
Pool C is made up of Jamaica, South Africa, Wales and Sri Lanka while defending champions New Zealand, Uganda, Trinidad and Tobago, and Singapore make up Pool D.
Online Reporter