PNL FINALE SET FOR CITY OF KINGS

Tadious Manyepo
Zimpapers Sport
THE curtain will come down on what has been an absorbing and reverting Premier Netball League season with ZDF Queens expected to wrap up the title at White City Stadium in Bulawayo next week.
The bubble will take place over two days ending on November 17.
The tight marathon has now been whittled down to a two-horse race between leaders and favourites ZDF Queens and Black Rhinos Queens.
That only two points separate the top two, who will also face-off in a much-awaited finale, adds to the excitement and sub-plots heading into the last weekend of action in the country’s elite league.
ZDF Queens, while leading the race, also have a game in hand which they can exploit before even playing Black Rhinos.
The outstanding match for them is not an easy one though as they will play third-placed Harare City.
If Harare City, now a stronger and well-motivated outfit than they were in the first half of the season, manage to stop ZDF Queens and Rhinos, as expected, win their games, the uniformed forces derby will then decide who takes home the crown.
The games have been on hold to allow the Gems more time to prepare for the Celtic International Cup Series currently underway in Cardiff, Scotland.
Ropafadzo Mutsauki’s team were scheduled to get their campaign underway against Northern Ireland at 10pm last night.
They will face Wales and Scotland today and tomorrow to complete the round-robin. After the Celtic Cup, Zimbabwe will then play England in Manchester in a friendly on Tuesday before they fly back to join their clubs in time for the season finale.
PNL spokesperson, Innocent Ndiya, said:
“After a long break designed to give the Gems ample time to prepare and participate in their tour of the UK, action will be back next week as we go into the final and decisive phase of the PNL race.
“Some teams will be fighting to finish strongly and others will be battling to stay afloat.
“It promises to be a massive weekend for PNL and the players who are in the Gems squad will also add more gloss to the competition as they would have gained a lot in their tour of duty.