Young Gems out to shine at Region Five Games

Media Mpofu,

With a mix of raw talent and international experience, Zimbabwe’s Under-19 netball team, the Young Gems, are gearing up to make a serious statement at the Africa Union Sports Council (AUSC) Region Five Games, kicking off this Friday in Luanda, Angola.

The Zimbabwe Netball Association yesterday named an 11-player squad that will represent the country at the Games, set to run from July 4–13. The event will feature more than 2  500 athletes and technical staff from 10 countries across 12 disciplines.

The Young Gems are seen as a promising crop, with several players already part of the senior national team setup and having gained exposure at the South African Telkom Netball Challenge.

“These players went on a nine-day camp and had a fair measure of competition and exposure at the Telkom League in South Africa,” said head coach, Stembile Banda. “Right now, the expectations are high.

We want to build on the momentum from the previous Region Five Games. We are aiming for a strong show, we are going there to deliver, not as tourists, and we are looking forward to giving our best.”

Banda said the squad’s preparations focused on building chemistry, sharpening technical skills, and ensuring players are physically and mentally ready.

“The camp was all about fine-tuning our skills, gelling up, building chemistry and maintaining fitness,” she added.

The players were largely selected through the National Association of Secondary School Heads (Nash) competitions, with a few drawn from leading local clubs. Masvingo’s Pamushana Secondary School leads the contribution with four players, while Bulawayo’s Sobukazi High and Midlands’ Zvishavane High School also make strong showings.

Top clubs like Black Rhinos Queens, Flow Angels, Thandanani Club and Alpha Queens also have representatives in the team.

Under-19 Team: Audrey Chitesa, Ashley James, Selmar Charindeguta, Rutendo Kapfunde (Pamushana High School); Precious Sibanda, Nomselo Ncube (Sobukazi High School); Nyaradzai Muzvondiwa, Sharon Mugwara (Zvishavane High School); Ruvimbo Pawandiwa (Flow Angels Queens); Faith Munyai (Black Rhinos Queens); Nomalanga Koto (Alpha Queens); Yvette Tsaukai (Thandanani Club)

Technical Team:

Stembile Banda (Head Coach), Faith Matanganyidze (Assistant Coach), Seyehlukile Sithole (Team Manager)