Veronica Gwaze
Zimpapers Sports Hub
ZIMBABWE senior netball team coach Ropafadzo Mutsauki could have received just the boost he needed after Gems goal-scorer Thandazile Ndhlovu joined the team ahead of the crucial 2027 Netball World Cup Qualifiers.
The continental contest, which will also serve as the African Championships, is pencilled in for Nairobi, Kenya, between September 19 and 26.
The Nedbank Gems are in Group One where they need to shrug off competition against South Africa, Kenya, Botswana and Nigeria at Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani (Indoor Arena) in Nairobi.
Group Two will be made up of Uganda, Malawi, Namibia, Zambia and Tanzania.
South Africa and Uganda have already qualified for the World Cup scheduled for Sydney, Australia next year, while the other teams have to compete for the two remaining slots available for Africa.
The qualifiers-cum-Africa Netball Cup will also feature the men’s African Championships.
Ndhlovu, a shooter under Correctional Queens, was initially ruled out of the qualifiers to attend her Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services training, where she recently joined the service as a Prison Officer.
However, ZPCS released her to join camp earlier this week, in time, as the Gems intensify their preparations.
“We are happy that almost all players are now in camp, with those who are not yet here likely not going to be part of the team considering that we are now out of time,” coach Mutsauki said.
“Encouragingly, Ndhlovu, who was unavailable in the opening weeks due to ZPCS service, is now here, training with the rest of the squad.”
Her availability is a significant boost to the technical team, and impressively, the shooter is showing sharpness, confidence, and a clear readiness to return to international action.
Ndhlovu comes into the qualifiers as favourite for the “Player of the Tournament” title after walking away with the continental top prize last year in Malawi, while men’s national team utility, Prince Ncube, will also be out to defend his title after being crowned as the top performer in the males’ category in the previous edition.
The Gem was to make history, becoming the first local to play at the Deloitte Netball Super League in Singapore after landing a contract at Swifts earlier this year.
Under the arrangement, UK-based athlete management agency “Step Out 7” selected African players who play for World Netball’s top 12 ranked nations to join Swifts.
Here, Ndhlovu was joined by Malawi’s Tendai Masamba, Melia Soko, Stellah Matelezi, and Haniisha Muhameed and Falidah Kadondi, who both turn out for Uganda and are expected to be at the qualifiers.
Resultantly, Ndhlovu brings a wealth of experience, notes on some of the opponents’ players, and the much-needed height in the shooting ring as a trusted GS in the absence of veteran Sharon Bwanali.
“Ndhlovu is young but what she offers is unmatched; she has the shots and her combination with Attackers Nicole Muzanenhamo, Ursula Ndlovu and Anifa Luya is something we should bank on,” added the coach.
