Sundaymail Editor
Sports Reporter
IT is promising to be another busy year for Zimbabwe’s netballers.
Not only is the national team, the Gems, set to return to World Cup action in August, but the domestic season will start much earlier as well. The Gems will make their second appearance at the global showpiece in Cape Town, South Africa, between July 28 and August 6.
In order to minimise disruptions, the Rainbow Amateur Netball League (RANL) and the Premier Netball League (PNL) will get back to competitive action earlier than expected. RANL, which is bankrolled by Glow Petroleum, began their season yesterday.
Their games are being played in a bubble. On the other hand, PNL are set to have a pre-season tournament on February 18 in Harare.
RANL secretary-general Moses Gukurume announced that 18 teams have confirmed their participation, an increase from the 14 sides that took part last year.
The four new entrants are Belvedere Technical Teachers’ College, who have jumped ship from PNL; Delta Transport; Hwange Colliery and ZRP Mutare.
“There are a lot of events lined up this year,” said Gukurume.
“Apart from the usual uniformed forces’ games, we also have elections and the World Cup. What this means is that we will have a lot of breaks along the way.
“The year 2022 was a great season. While we had our fair share of challenges, we learnt a lot.
“This year, we are correcting some of our mistakes so that we have a better one.”
RANL rewarded all teams for their participation throughout the season.
For the first time, the league sponsors also came up with the Team of the Year Award.
Champions Petroleum Queens defended their title, edging police outfit ZRP Mambas and Correctional Queens, who settled for the silver and bronze medals, respectively.
The champions have since Iured some of the country’s finest netball talents in Sharleen Tanaka Makusha and Hamu Govere, who were signed from PNL champions Platinum Queens.
Makusha and Govere are expected to bring the much-needed experience, having been part of the Platinum Queens outfit that have been a dominant force in the PNL in the past four years.
PNL are similarly bracing for an exciting season.
Chairperson Sarudzai Chapo said their tournament later this month will serve as a dress rehearsal for the championship.
Platinum Queens retained the title after beating off competition from runners-up Green Fuel and third-placed army side ZDF Queens. “The tournament is a platform for all teams to evaluate their readiness for the new season, and we are expecting all teams to participate.
“The ladies have already started training, and there has also been a lot of player movement. “It will definitely be a new and exciting season,” Chapo said.
Online Reporter