adminreceived a kit donation from a local sports shop.
Betta Ball Sports, suppliers of sports goods and equipment, recently forged a new partnership with the Zimbabwe Handball Federation which will see them coming in as one of the major sponsors of the national handball teams.
Yesterday the sports shop donated handball jerseys and shorts to both the men’s and women’s Under-20 teams ahead of their departure for the IHF Zone Six Challenge Trophy tournament that is set to run from March 31 to April 7 in Johannesburg, South Africa. The two teams also received golf T-shirts from Betta Ball Sports and the whole kit donation is worth US$2 000.
Lizah Makombore, the Betta Ball Sports operations director, presented the kit to ZHF president, Amon Madzvamuse, in the presence of the players from the two Under-20 teams in Harare yesterday.
Speaking at the presentation function yesterday, Makombore said they decided to come into partnership with the ZHF after noticing that the sport of handball has of late turned itself into one of the most popular sporting disciplines in this country.
“Handball has been growing and spreading throughout Zimbabwe and we have noticed that most primary and secondary schools in all the country’s 10 Provinces are now playing the sport.
“So, we at Betta Ball Sports decided to come on board and forge a partnership with ZHF and this kit donation is all part of our new friendship with the federation.
“We take this as a momentous event as we would like you (the men’s and women’s Under-20 teams) to do us or the nation proud by bringing back a gold medal from the IHF Zone Six Challenge Trophy tournament in South Africa.
“We know that you will do your best and that is why we have decided to donate to you an imported, quality kit because we believe you are quality players,” said
Makombore to a deafening applause from the men and women’s Under-20 players present at this function.
In response, the ZHF president, Madzvamuse, saluted Betta Ball Sports for the “timely donation of the kit” which he said will go a long way in boosting the players’ morale ahead of the IHF Zone Six Under-20 Challenge Trophy tournament in South Africa.
“In fact, the ZHF is destined for greater heights and we have proved today that we are working with the local corporate world to develop the sport of handball in this country.
“I would also like to assure our new sponsors Betta Ball Sports that these two teams are not going to South Africa to make up the numbers but to win a gold medal for Zimbabwe at this tournament.
“So, we are very grateful to Betta Ball Sports for this kind gesture and we would like to assure you that these boys and girls will do the nation proud during this tournament in South Africa,” Madzvamuse said.
Both the Zimbabwe men’s and women’s Under-20 teams are already in camp, preparing for the IHF Zone Six Under-20 Challenge Trophy tournament.
In fact, 28 players — 14 boys and the same number of girls — will be carrying the country’s flag at this tournament and they are scheduled to leave for Johannesburg on Friday afternoon by road.
Madzvamuse said they have already sought clearance from the Sports Commission to compete at this event.
The IHF Zone Six Under-20 Challenge Trophy is bankrolled by the world’s handball governing body and it has attracted seven countries from the Southern African region — Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia, Zimbabwe and the hosts South Africa.
The tournament’s matches will be staged at Orlando Community Hall in Soweto just outside Johannesburg.
Online Reporter