ZHF to introduce national league

Zimpapers Sports Hub

IN a move expected to spur the growth of the local game, Zimbabwe Handball Federation are set to introduce a national league at the end of this month.

ZHF secretary general Edson Chirowodza revealed that the league, made up of 16 teams — eight male and an equal number for women is expected to run until November.

The clubs were selected from the regional leagues.

“Basically, this year we are starting a national league.

“So, from our top teams from last season, from the regional leagues, we took two teams.

“We have 16 clubs — eight male, eight female that are going to kick-start the Zimbabwe Federation Premier Handball National League.

“We have already met with the 16 clubs; they are making their registrations.

“Previously it was just provincial, we never had a national league, it’s something that we are starting.”

The league will be played in a bubble format to try and cut costs with venues being rotated.

Local netball leagues have adopted the same format over the past few years.

“Mainly it’s because of capacity.

“Our clubs are still young and they are still growing. They don’t have the finances to be playing every weekend in terms of travel, accommodation and costs,” said Chirowodza.

The national league is expected to change the fortunes on the local scene in terms of creating more competition at senior level.

And ensuring ZHF come up with formidable national teams.

“I think once we start with these senior men and women clubs playing what we can call professional handball rather than remaining at amateur or remaining at the developmental stage, this will also lead us to maybe, in the future, also coming up with junior leagues, whereby these clubs will be also mandated to form a junior club.

“As a result, we know that there will be a lot of handball-playing in terms of professional (level).

“And it will be a system whereby a player can aim to say now I also want to be in the National League. I also want to earn a living through handball.

“We are saying there has to be a package also that these players should be taking home in terms of, maybe during the bubble games, best player of the games, the men of the matches, the overall prize tag.

“We also want handball to become a family sport. A sport that is popular rather than people waiting for Zone VI and it ends there.”

“So, by this league now I think it is something that is going to take the sport to the next level.

“Even also the idea of developing senior national teams, I think this is the way to go now,” said Chirowodza.

The ZHF secretary general said they have provisionally secured a sponsor but the door is open for other sponsors to come on board.

ZHF held their season open tournament over the weekend.

In the men’s competition Spikers were crowned champions after beating Manyame Falcons 14-13 in a tightly contest match.

It was also a close contest for the women’s category with Manyame Sparrows defeating City Stars 11-10.