Online Reporter
Veronica Gwaze
Zimpapers Sports Hub
THE Zimbabwe men’s netball team will this year make their maiden appearance at the upcoming Telkom Netball League in South Africa.
Scheduled to run in a series format from April 24, the tournament will draw the top 16 provincial South African women’s teams to battle for supremacy with Zimbabwe and Malawi national teams coming in as invitational sides.
Zimbabwe will take part in Power Week Two of South Africa’s premier semi-professional netball competition in Johannesburg between May 22 and 31.
This time, their participation offer has been extended to the men’s team as part of their preparations for the African Championships scheduled for September in Kenya.
Golden Flyers team manager, Carlos Murehwa, told Zimpapers Sports Hub that Zimbabwe will be fielding an Under-23 side, as part of their build-up towards the regional showcase.
Having largely relied on the same team since the formation of the men’s national team, Murehwa said this year, they are looking to rebuild by bringing in fresh blood into the team.
“We have been looking to create a pipeline of talented players for our senior national team, and the Under-23 team is a key part of that strategy,” he said.
“By investing in our young players now, we are building a strong foundation for future succession on the senior team considering that most of our players are now winding up their careers.”
Some of the players in the senior national team are already establishing themselves in coaching and other administrative roles.
Utility player Nhlanhla Ndlovu Snow coaches Santa Queens, Prince Ncube also mentors P-Stars, while William Gwazani is a top-flight umpire, and Maxwell Nyandoro together with Bothwell Chinyangare are in the structures of the leagues’ teams.
Having largely relied on the same team since the Golden Flyers’ inception two years ago, Murehwa said the team has never had a reliable feeder and that it is now time to lay a foundation.
As the first step, the Zimbabwe Netball Association will conduct trials between May 2 and 3 at Girls’ High School, with potential national team players expected to come from all the provinces.
“Short-term, we are focused on identifying potential through trials and then developing the individual skills and team cohesion, with a big emphasis on the Africa Championships.
“We are expecting to join the Super Power Week Competition in South Africa; this will be the Under-23’s test on a competitive platform.
“We expect our participation at the Telkom League to help us come up with the best national team, it is a platform for players to prove how competitive they can be on an international stage,’’ Murehwa said.
Murehwa also revealed the Golden Flyers’ ambitions for the inaugural Men’s Netball World Cup which has been scheduled for 2028.
Against the background of the stereotypes that blight the men’s version of the game, Murehwa is confident that the World Cup will help to promote netball across communities.
“We are creating a sustainable pathway for our team with eyes on the World Cup, further, this will help make Zimbabwe a force to be reckoned with in international netball.
“The decision to come up with this team was driven by our desire to create a pipeline of talented players for the senior national team but above all, to promote male netball in Zimbabwe, inspiring the next generations of players,” he said.
