Veronica Gwaze
Zimpapers Sports Hub
JUST a fortnight after the Gems returned from the Netball Africa Cup-cum-2028 Netball World Cup qualifiers, the Zimbabwe Netball Association are already staring at its next big assignment — rebuilding the Zambezi Eagles project.
The developmental side was left depleted after the recent continental tournament in Nairobi, Kenya, following the promotion of the core of its players into the senior national team.
Six of the Zambezi Eagles’ core players were promoted into the senior team in an inevitable rebuilding move prior to the continental show-piece.
This was after several senior members of the Gems outfit were unavailable due to injuries and other commitments.
The Zambezi Eagles, established last year to be a conveyor belt for the senior team, finally became exactly that — the main feeder.
Against all odds in Kenya, the progress worked, helping Zimbabwe finish sixth out of 10 in the Africa Cup, although they went on to lose out on the two World Cup tickets that were available for Africa.
Thrown into the deep end, with barely the experience needed to face Africa’s heavyweights, Zimbabwe’s new-look Gems still managed to be competitive, completing the campaign with two wins and three defeats.
For a side that travelled as a second-string outfit, that finish is more than respectable and enough validation for the project’s formation and investment over the two years.
That the Gems finished sixth shows that the Zambezi project is worth keeping and must stay to provide a reliable feeder into the senior team.
The reality, however, is that success comes at a cost.
“Most of the Eagles who were drafted in at the last minute seized their opportunity in Kenya, and we are impressed with the potential that they showed,” said technical director John Banda.”
It shows that we are in the right direction with the project, so now while we work hard to ensure that the Gems get enough exposure, we also have to rebuild the Zambezi Eagles.
“We could not qualify for the third successive World Cup, but I think this time we have a decent squad that has so much potential and if we maintain it, it will be unstoppable soon.”
Prisca Mpofu, Beaular Dhaure, Enesi Chavarika, Perisinev Tabviroona and Lubelihle Khumalo earned their first senior national team caps.
On the court, they handled pressure, adapted to international tempo, and proved it is only a matter of time before they rise to fit into the previous Gems’ standards. Following their decent showing in Kenya, most of the players will have to remain in the senior set-up as ZINA build towards future tournaments.
That leaves a gaping hole in the developmental side, and ZINA cannot afford to let the Eagles project collapse.
“The African tournament showed us a lot in terms of both depth, fragility and proper planning for our netball,” Banda added.
“When injuries and unavailability hit the senior team, the association did not have to panic and start trials from zero; we just went on to promote players from the developmental side.
“The project became our next door; the Eagles were ready-made, they were system-trained replacements who already understood the Gems’ patterns, structures and these crucial calls.”
The rebuilding is now imminent.
ZINA is expected to call for fresh trials in the coming weeks, with scouts ready to widen their search beyond the usual clubs.
The focus will be on Under-21 and Under-23 talent from the Premier and Rainbow Netball leagues, tertiary institutions’ games and the schools.
Coaches who have been monitoring those competitions say there is no shortage of raw talent in the country.
“The Gems may have missed the World Cup ticket this time, but they found something equally valuable, which is a system (Zambezi Eagles) that works,” said the coaches.
“We have a lot of talent in the country, and this is an opportunity for more players to come into the national team system.”
