Online Reporter
Media Mpofu, Zimpapers Sports Hub
THE Nedbank Premier Netball League entered its sixth round with the Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF) Queens still unbeaten.
The league, which is being played in a bubble format with multiple games at single host centres, is starting to take shape — and ZDF Queens are already establishing themselves as the team to beat.
League spokesperson, Innocent Ndiya said the centralised setup is helping streamline fixtures and ease logistics, allowing teams to focus on performance.
“We’re using a bubble format, which means several matches are played at one host centre each weekend,” Ndiya said.
Ndiya noted a surprising but welcome shift in the competitive balance this season, with newer teams shaking up the established hierarchy.
“The old teams are struggling while the new teams are topping the table. For example, Makate High School is doing very well in the competition,” he said.
Zimbabwe national team coach, Ropafadzo Mutsauki, echoed the excitement around the league’s progress, describing the level of play as “exceptionally high” and a fertile ground for national team scouting.
“We are looking forward to producing quality players for the national team. The league is expanding, and we now have players coming from every corner of the country. They are physically fit and technically improving,” said Mutsauki.
Despite financial challenges, Mutsauki praised the teams’ resilience and commitment to maintaining professional standards.
Mutsauki also revealed that four clubs — ZDF Queens, Black Rhinos, Harare City Queens and Makate High School — will represent Zimbabwe at the Confederation of Southern Africa Netball Associations (Cosana) Club Championships set for May 1 – 5 in Windhoek, Namibia.
“These teams are getting invaluable match-day experience locally, and we’re confident they’ll be competitive on the continental stage,” said Mutsauki.
RESULTS ROUND-UP
There was no shortage of goals and drama across the weekend, with some games ending in emphatic victories:
Imbizo Queens 45-26 Buffaloes
Beitbridge Stars 12-58 Manyame Falcons
Aspindale 51-26 Buffaloes Queens
Beitbridge Stars 37-35 Buffaloes Queens
Chapungu 72-11 Aspindale
Bikita Minerals 48-19 Beitbridge Stars
Aspindale 38-32 Imbizo
Manyame Falcons 44-30 Bikita Minerals
Harare City 86-18 Tongogara Queens
Makate Highflyers 50-37 Harare District
ZDF Queens 89-27 Tongogara Queens
Harare City 51-28 Harare District
Makate Highflyers 58-30 Tongogara Queens
ZDF Queens 95-31 Harare District
P Stars 48-36 Mutare City
Brace Queens 96-12 Mutasa Falcons
Black Rhinos 120-7 Mutasa Falcons
P Stars 70-16 Mutasa Falcons
Brace Queens 44-26 Mutare City
BUBBLE MVPs
Kwekwe: Melisa Tsungu (Tongogara Queens)
Bikita: Charlotte Ndlovu (Beitbridge Stars)
Ruwa: Esnath Tekenye (Brace Queens)
STANDINGS SNAPSHOT
P W D L F A GD Pts
ZDF Q 6 6 0 0 583 130 +453 12
Manyame F 5 5 0 0 277 114 +163 10
Aspindale 6 5 0 1 289 215 +74 10
Harare City 4 4 0 0 268 83 +185 8
Makate H 4 4 0 0 206 119 +87 8
Black R 3 2 0 1 203 91 +112 4
Imbizo Q 4 2 0 2 164 136 +28 4
Mutare City 5 2 0 3 208 210 -2 4
Brace Q 5 2 0 3 205 209 -4 4
P Stars 5 2 0 3 205 216 -11 4
Bikita M 5 2 0 3 185 243 -58 4
Harare D 5 2 0 3 202 264 -62 4
Beitbridge 3 1 0 2 68 141 -73 2
Buffalo Q 6 0 0 6 164 342 -178 0
Tongogara 5 0 0 5 128 342 -214 0
Mutasa Fal 6 0 0 6 91 537 -446 0
City Queens 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Hungwe 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Nyathi 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Yummy Q 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
