Online Reporter
The curtain comes down on the Confederation of Southern Africa Netball Association club championships in Harare today with two Zimbabwean teams in the frame to lay hands on gold.
The 11-team jamboree kicked off at the Sunrise Sports Club on Thursday last week and after a reverting action-packed four day programme, it has come down to the final four.
It’s too close to call with Chapungu and Makate muddling through to the semi-finals where they will face-off against Zambian opposition NAPSA and Green Buffaloes.
It will be an absolute Game of Thrones in both semis, especially with the Zambian duo looking sharp and the Zimbabwean sides guaranteed home advantage and support.
Soon after the semi-finals, Harare City men’s side will play against Lesotho men before the bronze and gold matches come up later in the day.
The Minister of Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture Anselem Sanyatwe is expected to officially close the fiesta.
Reporter Tadious Manyepo will provide live updates.
Makate lose to Green Buffaloes
The first semifinal is done and dusted. It’s the Zambian side who has knocked out the Zimbabweans after a dominant 42-34 win.
Makate tried their best but couldn’t match the Zambian soldiers who demonstrated their firepower, whitewashing every quarter with sleek play.
Makate will play the bronze match against losers from the other semifinal pitting Chapungu and yet another Zambian side Napsa.
Chapungu face NAPSA in COSANA semis
Zimbabwean giants Chapungu have stepped into the field to play Zambia’s NAPSA in the COSANA club Championship semifinal.
It’s the second of the two semis after Makate lost 34-42 to Green Buffaloes in the first game.
It’s evenly poised in the second quarter.
What a game of netball we are witnessing at Sunrise.
Very small margins.
Every interception, retrieval or rebound is being celebrated with wild cheers from the predominantly Zimbabwean crowd desperate to see Chapungu at least representing the badge in the final.
Napsa don’t have the same pressure.
Chapungu marginally leads at halftime
Chapungu have taken just a single point advantage to the breather leading NAPSA 21-20 in this COSANA semifinal thriller.
It’s proving to be a game of errors and forced errors.
It’s about the margins. The ability to take those turnovers and utilise centre passes.
Chapungu will be desperate to get over the line and represent the country in the final after Makate lost the first semifinal to Zambian side Green Buffaloes
We are back for the second half or the third quarter to be precise. Chapungu have that marginal lead which they have to increase in this crucial phase.
It will be about moments otherwise, it’s too close to call.
Chapungu are sadly tiring down.
Napsa have the endurance. Concentration levels dipping for Chapungu and Napsa have the chance to seize control of this quarter. They are actually now in control.
Chapungu led for the first two quarters, then had control of the third.
But things are falling apart. Chapungu are losing too many balls. They are always second to the ball. They are giving too many turnovers.
High balls aren’t working, neither are low balls. They just can’t concentrate.
But they have the chance to crawl back into it. It will depend with how coach Tatenda Shinya shuffles his cards from the back foot
Third quarter ends with Chapungu training 30-32.
That means they have conceded three times without reply at the top of the quarter having ended the second leading by a single point.
It’s evenly poised but Chapungu should do more in the final quarter. Hopefully Shinya will pep talk his girls up.
He needs to. Now not later. Just 15 more minutes to redeem themselves and pull themselves free from the brink.
We are having a game and a half at Sunrise
We are into the final quarter.
Chapungu are still rushing it out.
Napsa are trapping them. And leading them.
Disaster is looming. It’s nervy. Tense.
As bad as they come.
The Chapungu attackers are committing elementary errors including stepping. That’s surely unacceptable at this level of the game. The defenders are looking tired. Yes they are.
They have been overrun. They have been outsmarted. But hope is the last thing that Chapungu will lose.
They are being urged on by the fans.
Chapungu committing too many errors
That’s their biggest undoing. They are able to win some turnovers. But they are giving them away too easily.
Even in the attacking ring, they aren’t so sure. Too many missed opportunities.
But Napsa aren’t doing the same at the opposite end. They are ruthlessly clinical.
Surely, and just surely, they are losing this game.
Not by lesser margins. The Zambians aren’t here to crack any jokes. They mean business.
It’s party time for Zambia
We are going to see an all-Zambian affair in the final, surely.
Napsa are now cruising. Chapungu have inexplicably become passive. Too passive for this level. Too passive for a side with such massive support
Chapungu lose to Napsa
The margin then stretched to nine in the final quarter.
Chapungu lost everything in this phase.
45-36 in favour of Napsa.
That’s sad but part of the game.
Napsa will play their compatriots Green Buffaloes in the final.
Chapungu will face Makate for bronze.
The 3rd place play-off between Chapungu and Makate High Fliers is on at Sunrise Sports Club.
Chapungu take a 13-9 lead to the 1st quarter break.
The local rivalry between the two teams is an amazing one. And for once the crowd is split.
Makate have turned it around and they go to the halftime break leading 24-21.
Makate takes a 32-30 lead into the the third quarter break
It’s Chapungu who takes the bronze after flooring Makate 45-39
It’s an all Zambian affair in the final of the COSANA Club Championship with Green Buffaloes taking on Napsa.
Quite a balanced game here.
It’s Green Buffaloes who are lewding 11-7 in the first quarter.
Green Buffaloes takes a 21-14 lead into the halftime
Green Buffaloes are 32-26 to the good after the third quarter
Green Buffaloes are the COSANA Champions
Zambian side Green Buffaloes have won the COSANA club Championships after beating compatriots NAPSA 45-31 in the final at Sunrise Sports Club this afternoon.
Zimbabwe’s Chapungu won bronze after beating Makate in the 3rd place play-off earlier.
