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Ellina Mhlanga Senior Sports Reporter
FORMER Gems captain Perpetua Siyachitema has saluted the senior national netball side following their qualification for next year’s Netball World Cup.
For Zimbabwe, it will be their second consecutive appearance at the global event.
South Africa, Uganda and Malawi are the other African countries that will compete at the global show-piece to be staged in Cape Town, South Africa. Siyachitema, who called time on her playing career soon after the 2019 Netball World Cup in Liverpool, England, to pursue coaching, paid tribute to the team.
She was hopeful of more success stories from the senior side considering most of the players are still young. The Gems have been on a rebuilding exercise, bringing in some upcoming players.
“Firstly, I would like to thank the Gems for qualifying for next year’s Netball World Cup. They did great considering it’s almost a new team. And also I would like to thank the coaches who moulded the girls.
“So I think as a netball nation, our netball is rising from the time when we were struggling to qualify.
“Rating their play and their ages, I think we still have more opportunities to qualify for more Netball World Cup finals because these girls are still young. They still have many years of playing netball.”
South Africa remain the powerhouse on the continent, followed by Uganda and Malawi. Zimbabwe comes on fourth position on the continent as they continue to make strides to be among the leading netball-playing nations on the continent. They are ranked number 13 on the world. At the just-ended Netball World Cup qualifiers in Pretoria, South Africa, Zimbabwe won four matches out of the six they played.
Goal attack Tafadzwa Matura was voted player of the match twice, while vice-captain Claris Kwaramba and Beaula Hlungwani also got the same award. a
“I was impressed because it gives confidence to the players, especially for a player like Tafadzwa, she had just come in and it was amazing. It gives her confidence getting recognition at that level, it means she can do it. It helped in building confidence for the girls.
“I think we have so much talent that just needs nurturing and the coaches need to continue working these players,” said Siyachitema.
With their participation at next year’s Netball World Cup finals guaranteed, Siyachitema said, the Gems now need to focus on getting ready and urged the players to be professional in their conduct and attitude towards the build-up to next year.
“I think they mustn’t relax. They still need to work, to have a training routine, no eating recklessly and drinking recklessly.
“What I realised, the difference between the Netball World Cup and the Africa Championships, as each day passes, you play a tougher game, as you proceed you meet big teams, so endurance is needed.
“At the (previous) Netball World Cup our finish was not perfect because we were tired. Then we didn’t know what to expect, but now we know what to expect.
“To the players, once you are chosen to represent the nation, differentiate yourself. Playing for the national team is different from playing in the league.
“When you are playing for the national team, one, you need seriousness. Two, you are now a professional. Of course, netball is a team sport but we can always see who has been training and who has not been training, it shows from the results. “The girls just need to be professional and set standards for themselves.”
Siyachitema also commended the efforts that have been made to ensure there is continuity, with players graduating from the junior sides feeding the senior team. She said the results are showing now, taking into account that even after several seniors left, the team managed to register another success story. Some of the players were part of the 2017 World Youth Cup team that represented Zimbabwe in Botswana.
“I always knew there is talent in Zimbabwe. I once worked with the Under-21s, there was a lot of potential. So I always knew that even if we left, there were players on standby.
“We still have the likes of Claris, Sharon (Bawanali) and captain (Felisitus Kwangwa) they are still young as well. So I think we have better structures now. I just wish we continue to have these structures.”
The Glow Petroleum coach also emphasised the need to recognise the players in terms of incentives for their efforts.
“I think it’s an issue, the women’s teams prosper, going as far as the Netball World Cup but if the male team get even to the Africa Cup they get more . . . So that creates a bit of bitterness because both are representing the country. At times it really demoralises the players.
“Give them the recognition and you will see what they can do,” said Siyachitema.
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