tawandamusarurwa
Veronica Gwaze in Pretoria, South Africa
ZIMBABWE’s netball team, the Gems, go into their match against hosts South Africa on Thursday with reduced pressure, having secured safe passage into the next round of the 2023 Netball World Cup Qualifiers.
This comes after their 43-33 win over Tanzania on Wednesday, which was the team’s third successive victory of the competition.
In their last Pool A game, the Ropafadzo Mutsauki-led charges will face continental giants, South Africa, who are also unbeaten in the competition.
A win over their neighbours will see the Gems proceed to the semi-finals as Pool A winners, and face the loser between the Pool B pair of Malawi and Zambia.
However, if they fall to the hosts, they will proceed as Pool A runners-up, and face the winner of the Malawi and Zambia game.
Malawi and Zambia have also qualified for the semi-finals, and will battle it out for top spot in Pool B.
Gems assistant coach, Tatenda Shinya, paid tribute to his charges for a fine showing in the tournament so far.
“We came here aware of what is at stake, and did not want to be complacent or to underestimate the opponents,” said Shinya in reference to the win over Tanzania.
“We are already through to the semi-finals. So, as much as we need a win against South Africa, we should focus more on how we can make it to the finals.
“We are still in a good position to grab one of the two World Netball Cup finals slots, and it is enough motivation for us to push forward,” said the assistant coach.
Wing attacker Beula Hlungwani, who was named Player-of-the-match after the Tanzania win, paid tribute to her teammates.
“For me, this recognition goes to show the level of team effort that we have shown throughout the tournament.
“We played and won as a team,” said the Glow Petroleum winger.
“However, we should not get carried away because the mission is still not yet to be accomplished. We have to focus until it’s done, and then we celebrate.”
Fixtures
10:00 Botswana v Tanzania
12:00 South Africa v Zimbabwe
14:00 Malawi v Zambia
16:00 Pos 7-9 (A5vB4)
Online Reporter