Online Reporter
Tadious Manyepo
Zimpapers Sports Hub
THE Premier Netball League will take a month’s mid-season break following an intensive two-day bubble in Mutare last weekend.
Each club played at least five games inside 48-hours with defending champions ZDF Queens steering two points clear at the top after defeating both their challengers to this year’s crown – Harare City and Chapungu Queens.
The first 15 games of the season have proven to be very competitive with ZDF Queens’ two-point advantage only at this stage the body of evidence. At this same period last season, the military outfit were already six points above their closest challengers. But things are different this time around with both Harare City and Chapungu Queens expected to challenge the monopoly as the two teams are lining up some good signings. It is Chapungu who are billed to fly high after they managed to lure arguably the best player in the league, Takadanaishe Assah Zimusi, from Harare City.
The Airforce of Zimbabwe side won Zimusi’s signature in April but they couldn’t field her because she had already featured for the municipality side in the same half.
She will be eager to regain lost ground in the league after recently starring for the Zimbabwe Select side, the Zambezi Eagles, in the Telkom League Power Week 2, in South Africa.
With star players like Tafadzwa Matura already in their fold, Chapungu Queens will have the much-needed balance as they will try to cut the four-point gap between them and ZDF Queens.
Premier Netball League spokesperson, Innocent Ndiya, said:
“After this unforgettable bubble in Mutare, in which ZDF Queens rolled over the show, I can announce that the season will take a one-month break to allow the players to rejuvenate.
“Clubs will also reorganise and come back stronger from the break.
“The first half of the season has been very competitive and we have had no bad incidents like violence or anything. We are very happy to be running this league.”
During the break, the top-four teams in the league — ZDF Queens, Harare City, Chapungu Queens and Black Rhinos — are also expected to represent the country in a tournament in Botswana.
Londile Moyo