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Ray Bande
Senior Reporter
THE Manicaland Netball Division One League gets into Bubble Four this weekend with log leaders Santa Queens out to fortify their position on the summit of the table.
Santa Queens, a club which traces its infancy to Magute Village in St Augustine’s peri urban area of Mutare where its financiers Frei8ght Zone clearing company owners — the Chiwambutsa family — reside, are having to deal with stiff competition from second placed Destiny Queens, Buffaloes and Eastern Queens.
In a move aimed at cutting costs, the Manicaland Division One Netball League is being played in a bubble format, just as the national league is being done.
Santa Queens captain Patience Mupfumwa, said: “We are confident of maintaining our position on top of the table. We are aware that it will not be a stroll in the park but we have been training hard to ensure that we achieve just that.”
Santa Queens have played 13 matches so far in the season and have amassed a tally of 24 with a healthy goal difference of 362.
Their close competitors, second placed Destiny Queens have collected 20 points from the 12 matches they have played.
They have a goal difference of 283.
Buffaloes and Eastern Queens, who are tied on 18 points and only separated by goal difference, are in third and fourth place, respectively.
League whipping girls Nyamaropa Queens are yet to collect a single point after featuring in eight league matches while fellow struggling outfit Nyanyadzi Queens only have a point to show for the 10 rounds of league matches they have played.
Both teams are yet to register a win.
Gwebu Royal Queens will be hosting this weekend’s Bubble Four on Sunday where Checheche United, Nyanga Stars, Nyamaropa Queens, Gatti Queens, Buffaloes Queens, Rusitu Queens, Dangamvura Queens, Flying Queens, log leaders Santa Queens and Mweyamutsvene High make up the list of teams to converge at that venue.
At Green Fuel grounds tomorrow (Saturday), Expandable Angels will play host to star studded Ratings Queens, Bumba Queens, Rusape Stars, Nyanyadzi Queens, Eastern Queens, Ngangu Queens, King’s Daughter and Destiny Queens.
Munyaradzi Phiri, the Manicaland Division One Netball League Fixture Secretary, said: “We are satisfied with the way the league has been progressing so far. The competition is stiff and all the clubs have shown a great deal of seriousness in their game. This is exactly what we would want in order for us to contribute more talent to the national teams set up.”
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