adminSikhumbuzo Moyo Senior Sports Reporter
THE Bulawayo Netball Association (BNA) yesterday donated a set of playing jerseys, T-shirts and kit bags to the Botswana-bound Zimbabwe Under-21 netball team for the Netball World Youth Cup qualifiers running from Sunday to July 31 in Gaborone.
The squad, made up of 14 players and seven officials, left by road yesterday aboard a 36-seater bus donated by Glow Petroleum.
“We felt we should do our part as Bulawayo, hence this small donation. We have about six players in the travelling squad and those are fruits of working hard,” said BNA president Ruth Hove during the presentation ceremony held at Khumalo Hockey Stadium.
The brief ceremony was attended by officials from the Ministry of Sport and Recreation, members of the BNA executive and some club directors.
In her acceptance speech, Zimbabwe Netball Association president Letticia Chipandu said the game was thriving through the support of partners like Bulawayo province.
“The Bulawayo netball executive went out of their way and bought this kit for the national team and we are so glad and humbled by this gesture. It is such donations from Bulawayo that have seen netball thriving. As an association, we have never failed to fulfil an international association due to lack of funds,” said Chipandu.
She said she was confident the girls would bring back gold and qualify for the World Cup to be held in Gaborone from July 8-16, 2017.
National squad captain Felistas Kwangwa said they were psyched up and looking forward to the qualifiers.
“We prepared hard for this tournament from the first day we got into camp, which by the way was not a holiday camp, but very demanding. Everyone in the team is raring to go and I am confident Zimbabwe will be part of the elite nations at the World Cup finals next year,” said Kwangwa.
Zimbabwe will compete for the three available places against Lesotho, South Africa, Zambia, Malawi, Namibia and Uganda, while Botswana automatically qualify as tournament hosts.
Swaziland, who Zimbabwe were supposed to take on in their opener on Sunday, have since pulled out of the qualifiers.
Zimbabwe squad
Felistas Kwangwa, Mercy Mukwadi, Sanele Ncube, Nomagugu Makhalima, Michell Muzanenhamo, Eunice Nyasaland, Stembile Chitive, Patricia Mauladi, Chido Chiwenga, Linnette Tanhira, Ropafadzo Muhwira, Prisca Ganyani, Shalom Ncube, Vimbai Chirinda, Sharon Bwanali
Londile Moyo
Online Reporter