Online Reporter
Ellina Mhlanga
Zimpapers Sports Hub
THE Zimbabwe Handball Federation technical director Bekezela Ncube says they are looking forward to participating at the forthcoming Senior Women IHF Challenge Trophy Zone VI.
This is the first time the regional event will be held at senior level as the world body introduced the IHF Nations Trophy Senior Competition early this year.
Previously the competition catered for youth and junior teams.
Ncube said while they are looking at fielding the junior men’s side at the forthcoming continental phase in September, they are also working on ensuring they field a team at the Senior Women’s regional tournament.
“We have the senior ladies that are meant to travel again to Zambia before September, but at a date to be announced. So, our programmes now are targeting both the Under-20s and the senior ladies,” said Ncube.
“This is the first time we are going to have a senior national team category being played at IHF level. It was an issue that on this side of the continent, we are not having enough activity on the senior side, we are just playing on club level and we end there.
“No competition at zone level, no competition at continental level. So, IHF, after a request by countries, actually agreed to introduce this level, hence the introduction of it this year.”
According to the IHF, the new senior competition is a step in the ongoing commitment to grow the sport at every level and in every corner of the world. This comes after the successful implementation of the IHF Trophy worldwide at junior and youth level, a programme that helped national federations build the foundation of their national teams and develop coaches and referees over the years.
The competition is designed in a way that it supports developing nations.
Just like the youth and junior event, the competition takes off with the zonal tournaments.
The winner from each zone progresses to the continental phase, the CAHB African Championships. The expectation is also that the competition promotes continuity from the youth and junior categories to seniors, and create opportunities to compete at a higher level.
“We are saying this year it’s ladies, next year it’s men in the senior category. It’s also coming in as a qualifier for the continental phase.
“For us, it’s actually a great milestone.
“Why? Because we have seen most of our players who graduate from junior level, when they get to senior level, they don’t have any competition to play.
“But now, with the introduction of this, we are seeing continuity because after we identify talent in the junior category, we need to have movement from the junior to the senior.
“Now you find that most of our competitions were ending at the junior level, and at senior level, there was nothing besides the club competition. Because our aim also is to get into the senior competitions with IHF out there…Now because IHF has introduced this one, we are hoping that our seniors are going to showcase what they have, and then we are able to penetrate into the international level,” added Ncube.
Zimbabwe’s Under-20 side qualified for the continental phase expected to take place in September, in Cote d’Ivoire after they won the regional tournament staged in Zambia, in May.
