Online Reporter
Veronica Gwaze
Zimpapers Sports Hub
IT was merry-making time for Hwange last weekend when the coal mining town finally got to revel in their homegrown talent playing some top-flight netball.
Under the mentorship of former ZDF Queens coach Joel Sibanda, Hwange Colliery are in their debut Rainbow Netball League season.
The Glow Petroleum-funded league had bubbles lined-up for Glen View Hall, Main Camp, Khami Prison, Chisumbanje, Zamba Primary and the Colliery.
Sibanda believes that by getting a chance to host league games in the opening weekend of top-flight netball, Hwange will be hoping to make their mark in their maiden season.
“We are in our own race and we want to make an impression for ourselves and the community,” Sibanda said.
“The club means serious business and as a coach you obviously want to live up to their expectations so we are not leaving anything to chance.”
Hwange Colliery opened their season with a massive 64-14 victory over ZRP Bulawayo with Caren Zulu winning the Golden Hand recognition while Shawntel Maphosa emerged as the Player of the Match.
This was before they walloped Belvedere 98-7 while Pamela Mhlanga was crowned the Golden Hand winner with 50 goals to her name. Sharlene Ncube was named the Best Player.
“I am confident that so far we have a competitive squad, perhaps what we need now is more exposure and depth,” added Sibanda.
“The winning margins tell a bold story, and we would want to maintain that so that when the season winds down at the end of the year, we won’t have pressure.”
Meanwhile, champions Correctional Queens got off to a flying start, posting big wins to set the pace in their title defence mission. Coach Faith Matanganyidze first saw Side overpower Golden Valley 75-29 and then beat Khami 54-30.
Veteran Felisitus Kwangwa and Ednah Nyamhazha emerged as Player of the Match, respectively, in the two games while Pretty Moyo and Tafadzwa Mawango bagged the Golden Hand accolades in that order. If Correctional Queens manage to hold onto their lead, they are poised to retain it for the third successive time as it is apparent that they do not miss their budding goal shooter Thandazile Ndhlovu who did most of their business in the second round of games last year.
Ndhlovu is currently playing for Swifts in the Deloitte Netball League in Singapore.
Elsewhere the Premier Netball League got off to an exciting start with Chapungu stopping defending cham-pions ZDF Queens’ three-year winning streak.
Under new coach Tatenda Shinya, they beat the army outfit 42-41 before overpowering Harare City 49–39 and Harare District 69–30.
