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Ellina Mhlanga Senior Sports Reporter
ZIMBABWE’S youth and junior teams to represent the country at the International Handball Federation Trophy Zone VI are looking at surpassing their previous performances at this year’s edition that begins today in Harare.
The competition runs until Saturday at the Chitungwiza Aquatic Complex and City Sports Centre.
Lesotho, Eswatini, Malawi, South Africa, Zambia and hosts Zimbabwe are expected to battle it out in the tournament that will feature the Under-18 and Under-20 men’s teams.
Zimbabwe’s Under-20 team take on Malawi in their first game today at Chitungwiza Aquatic Complex and the Under-18s are up against Eswatini at City Sports Centre.
In the last edition, the Under-18s won bronze and the Under-20s were placed fourth.
The teams had their last training sessions yesterday morning with their technical teams upbeat they will pull through.
National Under-18 team coach Alan Mandeya said a win today will boost the team’s confidence.
“Since it is a round-robin tournament, the first games are very crucial. It should be a must-win game. It will boost the confidence, it will boost the players’ self-esteem, and for the next games it will give us the zeal to play. So a win is very important.
“We are going to give everything we have with all the teams.
“The team is ready. Actually we have had a long time in practice and everything. And they were responding to training really well. They want to play the game, they want to represent their country.
“Technically and tactically, we have managed to master all the things that we were doing,” said Mandeya.
Zimbabwe will be hoping to continue with their dominance over Eswatini, having won their previous encounters.
Under-18 captain, Felix Manyani, said despite losing some players due to school commitments they are raring to go.
“Of course, we were disadvantaged because of exams, some of our players are writing exams. So some of the best players are not here but with the ones who are here, we can play and we hope that we are going to win. We will make sure that we win.
“We want to do better than the previous teams,” said Manyani.
Under-20 captain, Kudakwashe Soka, said making the national team is a motivation for most of them as they are representing the country for the first time.
“We are all excited because I think most of us it’s the first time playing for Zimbabwe. It’s a milestone to play for the national team because there are many players out there who want to play for the national team but could not make it.
“We want to see the game growing and we want to prove that handball can also become popular just like football,” said Soka.
Lesotho were the first team to arrive yesterday while the rest of the teams were still expected to be in by late yesterday.
The IHF is also set to hold a coaching course during the tournament as part of their developmental efforts.
It will be facilitated by IHF CCM lecturer Martin Tuma.
Zimbabwe Under-20 Team
Tinashe Manyakara, Masimba Chibonda, Darren Nyakudya, Tatenda Chinzou, Ronald Magamura, Irvine Ndlovu, Amon Chamuda, Kudakwashe Soka, Tapiwanashe Maramwidze, Elvis Mbirinyu, Kundayi Mucharipeyi, Gashirai Kamucha, Tonderai Foti, Vaughan Matibiri.
Zimbabwe Under-18 Team
Craynne Kuvaronza, Munyaradzi Mhlanga, Felix Manyani, Tanatswa Mapolisa, Russell Masuku, Shonie Tigere, Shown Thomas, Johana Masamwira, Stephen Tarisai, Sean Mvuto, Namishibb Gamanya, Blessed Musarurwa, Panashe Chagonda, Tanaka Tore.
Online Reporter