New players charm Gems coach

Tadious Manyepo in CAPE TOWN, South Africa

THE Gems will spend most of the day today undergoing more mental than physical preparation for the hefty Netball World Cup opener against Australia here tomorrow.

The Zimbabwe netball team players have been together for about a month ahead of their second appearance at the quadrennial tournament, having made their entry with an impressive eighth place finish in Liverpool, England in 2019.

A lot has changed in the past four years but at least half of the players who did duty for Zimbabwe back then are still around and raring to go.

Coach Ropafadzo Mutsauki, who was the second in command to Lloyd Makunde, is now the driver of the orchestra and there is no doubt in terms of his ability to bring institutional memory.

He has expressed satisfaction over the team’s overall preparedness while he has been charmed with how the new players have integrated into the team. 

Some of the players who didn’t play at the global competition in 2019 include Beaula Hlungwai, Nalani Makunde, Tafadzwa Matura, Progress Moyo, Elizabeth Mushore and Nicole Muzanenhamo.

Yet they have been throwing heavy punches at training much to the delight of Mutsauki.

“I am more than happy with how they (new players) have fitted into the set-up.

“They are really impressive. They have been playing much like they have been when in their local teams,” said Mutsauki.

“You can see the vibe they have brought. They are bringing in a whole lot of new dimensions in the team.

“We are aiming higher than our eighth place finish in 2019 and these new players have galvanised our belief in terms of bringing more energy.

“Basically we have balance in our team. We have the experience and the determination in the side and we will try to leverage on that.

“All along we have been trying to work out the combinations. They have come out well as we saw in our practice matches against England, Barbados and Wales.

“I hope they will do as much as they showed they are capable of doing when the games start”.

Mutsauki said Australia are a big team but that doesn’t mean they are unbeatable.

“Australia is a massive team. They are very good but we are also a team with ambition,” he said.

“I am very impressed with what I have seen in my team so far. We are really happy as the technical team to have a group of players who are so passionate about the game and who are so hungry for success.

“Australia might be a very big team but that doesn’t mean we will only be there to be trembled.

“We will give it our best and leave everything in the court.

“We just need to be focused, remain calm and play our normal game.

“We are Zimbabweans and we should play like Zimbabweans. We need to avoid mistakes and be sure of what we are doing. We have a chance to upset the order after all”.

Zimbabwe will also face Tonga and Fiji in Pool A.

*Netball World Cup coverage proudly sponsored by Herentals Group of Colleges and Zororo-Phumulani