Senior netball team in camp

Peter Phiri Sports Corespondent
THE Zimbabwe senior national netball team is in camp preparing for the Africa Championships to be held in Malawi from 20 to 29 June.
Team coach Ledwin Dondo said preparations are going on well and the girls are raring to go. Malawi who are ranked fifth in the world are the defending champions and favourites to retain the title alongside South Africa who have also done well in the sport.

At least 26 players are in the Zimbabwe camp and the number will be trimmed to 14 and these will make the final squad.

Dondo said their training sessions have been very competitive with girls vying to impress the selectors.

‘‘Everything is on course and the girls have been impressive in training. The competition for places is so fierce that coming up with the final team will be difficulty. I believe the girls want to impress the selectors and our sessions resemble matches. Such competition is however healthy because whoever will make it in the final team will give it her best in Malawi,’’ said Dondo.

Zimbabwe Netball Association (Zina) president Leticia Chipandu weighed in by saying they are going to Malawi to compete and not make the numbers.

‘‘It will be tough in Malawi but however we are going there to fight to the bitter end and salvage something. From what I have seen so far in training, the team is pumped up and we are looking forward to play some good netball. A lot of teams have improved in the past couple of years and this will add to the excitement and competition. Zimbabwe has some good players who can play and compete at the grand stage. We are going to Malawi to win and not make up the numbers,’’ she said.

Among some of the countries that will take part in the African Netball Championships are the host nation, Malawi, South Africa, Zambia, Uganda and Tanzania.

Zimbabwe are ranked 26th in the world which is 21 places below Malawi.

Chipandu however downplayed the rankings saying teams change over time when considering that some players get married while others get old and slow down.

‘‘It will be anyone’s game in Malawi and any of the teams is capable of beating the other. You should bear in mind that teams change over time. So these countries are bringing in some new players while we are also bringing a new team. As far as I am concerned it is an open tournament and we hope to do better than the last time when we finished fifth,’’ she said.

Team

Perpetua Siyachitema, Miriam Lazarus, Patience Chinhoyi, Clara Gumbo, Edzai Nkosana, Paidamoyo Tinoza, Sheila Manyatera, Caroline Matura, Sheila Masikati, Sakina Matiza, Rudo Karume, Netsai Mwarikitsi, Maybe Matsaura, Lydia Tigere, Cynthia Kufepfu, Noma Shangata, Chivai Mangochi, Cynthia Gamurai, Netsai Muchemwa, Pauline Jani, Ndakazivei Madzigangava, Dorcas Makoshore, Chipo Mavhereketse.

Coach: Ledwin Dondo

Assistant coach: Tapiwa Chirenda

Team manager: Linda Gono.