Chronicle Editor
Brandon Moyo, Sports Reporter
Having successfully booked their second consecutive World Cup ticket last week, the Zimbabwe Netball national team is enjoying the highest of the highs in a “marginalised” sport in the country and they are doing so without much sponsorship.
It is through their exceptional performances, starting with the 2019 World Cup, that the Gems have brought netball to national attention.
A sport that was considered a “schools sport” has become a source of national pride. It has certainly dominated conversations all over the country – even Zimbabweans, who have no idea what netball is, followed the Gems’ World Cup qualification journey.
Having faced difficulties in the early 2000s, despite being the most popular ladies’ sport netball was on the decline, courts were not maintained, leagues shutting down and less competitions, however, Zimbabwe has managed to slowly grow in their bid to try and be a regional giant.
The last decade has seen the Gems become a household name in Africa. The decade’s upward movement all started when they were crowned African Champions in 2015 in Botswana and their achievement did not go unnoticed as they were later voted The Team of The Year at the National Sports Awards.
In 2017, the Gems, who did not have proper facilities and lacked resources, won the annual Hong Kong tri-nations tournament that featured the hosts and Malaysia.
The ladies did not only conquer Hong Kong in that year but also went on to win the Pent series in Namibia. In the following year, the Gems finished second.
The year 2018 was to become the greatest year in the history of netball in Zimbabwe.
The Gems, who were ranked 13th in the world at that time, played at the regional World Cup Qualifiers in Lusaka, Zambia and it is at that tournament that their greatest dream became a reality. The team managed to qualify and Liverpool 2019 was to be their first ever World Cup appearance.
For a tournament that was first played in 1963, Zimbabwe was to join some of Africa’s best in being Africa’s flag bearers in the sport’s most prestigious event. They finished eighth in the global showpiece.
As of 12 August 2022, Africa’s netball giants are still dominating the world rankings with three teams in the top 10. South Africa, Uganda and Malawi are ranked five, six and seven respectively. The Gems are ranked 13 out of the 47 teams as of 12 August 2022.
There is hope that they will break into the top ten very soon.
Determination and hunger for success has seen the Gems continue to grow and climb heights to be one of the finest netball teams in Africa. They have made netball popular in the country at a time when its opposite, football, is seen as a national embarrassment.
The second consecutive World Cup qualification is just confirmation that the Gems have arrived and are here to stay.
Online Reporter