Online Reporter
Veronica Gwaze-Zimpapers Sports Hub
PREMIER Netball League bounces back into action today, after a four-week mid-season break, with log leaders ZDF Queens out to maintain their pole position.
The games will be spread out in three bubbles which will be hosted in Bikita (Pamushana High School), Beitbridge (Welton Primary School) while in Harare games will be at Glen View One High School.
ZDF who are still to drop points are set to take on Aspindale in their first match of the day tomorrow at the Bikita Bubble, before battling it out against Buffaloes and Mutare Queens late in the afternoon.
Philemon Mangwiro, ZDF head coach is excited to return to action.
“In a way, we cannot really say we were resting because in the mid-season break, we were introspecting and looking at areas that we needed to work on,” he said.
“I am happy that we got time to do all that, and we are back for yet another exciting half as we complete the season . . . we are out to defend our title.”
“During the break, we did serious business and I am happy that all is good so far, we have no fresh injuries save for Caroline Matura and Michelle Muzanenhamo.”
The duo of Matura and Muzanenhamo picked injuries at the Confederation of Southern Africa Netball Association in Namibia in May.
ZDF and Makate Highflyers took part at the COSANA on invitation, where for the first time Zimbabwean clubs had been called to participate.
Mangwiro said the tournament provided a platform for his team to gauge themselves in a more competitive stage.
This, he added, gives them an advantage in their PNL mission.
“We took the tournament games as advanced training sessions and we were largely focusing on picking the positives on which we built when we got back,” he said.
“The participation in those games also boosted confidence in our team, so now morale is high and the ladies are enthusiastic to showcase what they learnt.”
Currently, ZDF lead the campaign with 30 points in 15 games, while Harare City trails closely with 28 after tasting defeat once.
Chapungu are third placed with 26 points, and Mutasa Queens occupy the bottom slot on the 16 teams table after bagging just two points, losing 14 games.
Buffaloes, Beitbridge and Bikita Minerals sit on positions 15, 14 and 13 with a paltry two, six and eight points respectively.
Bikita will be at home today, facing Mutasa Falcons in the bubble’s first fixture of the day.
Head coach Hamu Govere is relieved that they will be playing at home as the financially hamstrung club often finds it difficult to travel for away games.
“With where we are sitting on the log standings, we may get relegated if we do not improve,” she said.
“However, the situation is above us, we have nothing in our coffers so we continue to lose key players hence results are hard to come by.”
Owned by Sinomine-run Bikita Minerals, which is a subsidiary of the Sinomine Resource Group, the club operates on a zero-budget.
Their primary benefactors, the mining company itself, only extend assistance in the form of transport to and from match venues.
As a result of the limited backing, the club swims in serious financial challenges, especially given the extensive travel required for a national league.
Consequently, the team is often forced into demanding same-day trips for away matches, a gruelling schedule designed to avoid accommodation costs.
In situations where a return journey is not possible on the same day, the players have to spend the night (sleeping) on the team bus.
“The situation is bad, we play just for passion, there is nothing here in terms of player welfare so you end up caught between a rock and a hard place, unsure how to motivate your players,” added Govere who also doubles as a player.
“Hosting games like this gives us a brief relief because we do not face a lot of costs.”
In Beitbridge, Chapungu face Black Rhinos in what is expected to be an exciting battle of giants.
Meanwhile in Glenview league newbies Makate High Flyers seek to overpower Ibrace, PStars and Harare City.
