Online Reporter
Innocent Kurira, Zimpapers Sports Hub
IN a country where netball has long been boxed off as a women’s game, Prince Ncube walks onto the court without explanation or apology. He plays hard, he plays fast, and by the final whistle, the questions about whether he belongs there no longer matter.
Ncube’s rise has come to symbolise more than individual excellence. It reflects the slow, determined push of men’s netball in Zimbabwe, a movement built quietly, often overlooked, but driven by belief that talent should never be restricted by tradition.
When Ncube was crowned Player of the Tournament at the Africa Netball Cup in Lilongwe, Malawi, the moment carried weight beyond the medal placed around his neck. Competing against some of the continent’s most established teams, his performances cut through old perceptions with intensity, athleticism and skill. It was not novelty that drew attention, but quality.
“It’s such a great honour to be named Player of the Tournament at the Africa Championships while playing against the continent’s powerhouses. This really shows that we have the talent in the country,” said Ncube.
His success spoke to young men who have quietly loved the sport, trained in borrowed spaces, and played without crowds or recognition. For them, Ncube’s visibility offered permission to dream out loud.
“Good performances at such tournaments will help us as men’s netball to get better visibility and recognition.
“Men’s netball is a bit aggressive and faster than the girls’ netball.
“The level of style and skill is a bar above. International tournaments play a pivotal role in creating a platform for male players to showcase their talent, thus paving way for chances of greater opportunities across the globe.
“I am absolutely thrilled as I am presently the face of Africa Netball.”
Yet even as Ncube’s profile grows, his journey cannot be separated from that of Zimbabwe’s senior men’s national team, the Golden Flyers. Their story has unfolded away from bright lights, shaped by discipline, sacrifice and an unshakeable sense of purpose.
Formed just three years ago, the Golden Flyers have already appeared at three African Championships and returned with medals every time. Their debut in Botswana in 2023 delivered silver. Namibia followed with bronze a year later.
In Lilongwe, they reached another final and again settled for silver, finishing behind continental giants South Africa.
For a young programme, it is a record that demands respect. Still, recognition has been slow to follow. Sponsorship remains thin, media attention sporadic. Progress has been powered largely by personal commitment and the quiet conviction that results will eventually speak louder than scepticism.
The resistance they face mirrors struggles once experienced by women’s football in Zimbabwe.
Acceptance did not come easily there either, and even now the women’s game continues to fight for equal footing.
For men’s netball, the challenge runs deeper, tangled in long-held ideas about gender and identity in sport.
But change has begun to creep in. Each international outing chips away at doubt. Each medal reframes the conversation.
What once drew curious glances is slowly becoming a source of national pride.
