adminAllen Khumalo, Sports Reporter
THE Zimbabwe senior national netball team is set to leave for the 2017 Hong Kong Tri Nations tournament on March 13.
The series will be held from March 16-19 and will see Zimbabwe, who are ranked 17th on the latest International Netball Federation (INF) rankings, battling it out with Malaysia, who are ranked 19th and Hong Kong (26th).
Zimbabwe Netball Association (Zina) president Leticia Chipandu said the girls are expected to return on March 21.
“The team has been in camp in Harare since February 26 and the coach has selected 10 girls that will be travelling to Hong Kong. We have been sponsored by a well wisher, who asked to remain anonymous, so we thank that person for making our camp a success. We will be leaving the country next week and returning on March 21,” said Chipandu.
Zimbabwe will play Malaysia in their first match on March 16 and Hong Kong the following day. Coach Ledwin Dondo said preparations have been good.
“Preparations have been running smoothly and the girls have just passed the physical conditioning. Right now we are focusing on polishing their skills then we are good to go,” said Dondo.
Dondo said although they are above their opponents in the INF rankings, they will take each game seriously, as each team will be competing to win.
“We are not going to let those rankings affect our play in any way. The aim is to go there and treat every opponent the same way. We are going there to win, not just to make numbers. Even in camp, the girls are pumped up and are looking forward to displaying their best performances,” Dondo said.
Team
Perpetua Siyachitema (captain), Fellistas Kwangwa, Victoria Nkomo, Patience Mauladi, Pauline Jani, Paidamoyo Tinoza, Tafadzwa Mawango, Sanele Ncube, Tatenda Dziva, Mercy Mukwadi.
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