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Nhlanhla Mbele
A FTER a three month-break, the Southern Region Handball league is set to enter its second league fixture games which will be played at Bulawayo Polytechnic on 12 September.
Eight teams have confirmed their participation from both male and female clubs this year.
This year’s league will see new teams such as Mpopoma Movers, Mpandeni “Empire” Sharks and other teams from Hwange and Gwanda coming on board,a good sign that the sport is becoming recognised.
In the male category there are last years’ region champions Ajax handball club, Bulawayo Poly, Gwanda State University, Mpopoma Movers, Gwanda High School, Cyrene High School, Hwange Handball Club and National University of Science and Technology (Nust).
In the female category, Ajax Handball Club, Bulawayo Poly, Gwanda State University, Mpopoma Movers, Gwanda High School, United College of Education, Empire Sharks and Nust also returned to the league.
Cephas Mushati, the spokesperson for the Southern Region Handball, said they were expecting a more interesting and very good challenge this time around since more clubs had come on board.
“We are pushing for the league to be a success and we have planned that the league will stretch up to January next year to give clubs enough game time. This is to try to market the game of handball to all corners of the region and try to revive it in some areas where it’s no longer vibrant.
“Considering the turn out of the clubs this season, there is hope that we are heading somewhere as a region,” said Mushati.
Last year the league closed before all games were played due to financial issues which also affected the region in terms of choosing representatives for the national club championships.
Online Reporter