ZINA seek more support for Gems

Veronica Gwaze

AFTER recently booking a second successive appearance at the Netball World Cup, Zimbabwe’s Gems have reignited the euphoria that gripped the nation in 2019 when they made their debut at the global showcase.

The Gems arrived in Liverpool as minnows but they grabbed global attention with some fine showings, which earned them an eighth place finish.

After sealing their place in Cape Town, South Africa, coach Ropafadzo Mutsauki and his charges will join hosts South Africa, Uganda and Malawi as Africa’s representatives.

However, having walked the road before and learnt crucial lessons when they were preparing for the 2019 jamboree, the Gems have a lot to focus on.

With financial constraints having taken a toll on netball for so long, more corporates are expected to consider lending a hand to the Gems after such a feat.

Earlier in May, Spar Zimbabwe, who are now the Gems’ major sponsors, came on board to sign a key deal through the friends of Zimbabwe Olympic Committee (ZOC) initiative.

The partnership which brought together Spar Zimbabwe, ZOC and Gems came as part of the Olympic body’s seed-nurturing process in support of the team’s endeavours.

To show their commitment, ZOC also pledged to assist the Gems to ensure that they attain their dream to make an impact at the World Cup.

The ZOC committee assisted with groceries, and provided a performance hub for the team’s fitness and conditioning sessions ahead of the World Cup qualifiers.

They also provided access to medical facilities and pledged to continue to assist the team directly, whenever the need arises.

“They are our affiliate, so we will assist them in any way that we can just like we did last time to make their camp comfortable,” said ZOC chief executive Stephen Mudawarima.

“We also continue to source sponsorship and funding for them, especially as they resume preparations for the World Cup, we are committed to standing with them.”

ZOC president Thabani Gonye also acknowledged that the Gems qualification means support needs to be promptly secured.

This, he said, will guarantee smooth preparations for the Gems.

“This means that more support and resources are now required for a long-term and sustained preparation for the team, hence we need more partners to come on board and support this national cause,” Gonye said.

Although such companies like National Foods, Edgars and Zororo/Phumulani Funeral Services have stood by the team, Zimbabwe Netball Association (ZINA) president Leticia Chipandu has called for more support.

She said adequate sponsorship will also assist them secure the much-needed international friendlies.

The friendly games, said Chipandu, are key for the team to work on their shortcomings.

“We have some youngsters on the team and from now until the World Cup, they need to gain as much international exposure as they can.

“More resources are needed to make all this possible and from what we learnt in 2019, we need not rest but to do everything in time.”

However, she feels long-term solutions are key for the sport’s sustainability.

This, she said, will open the way for a vibrant grassroots and continuity.

Glow Petroleum Queens Head Coach Pepetua Siyachitema, who captained the Gems at the 2019 World Cup, agreed with Chipandu.

“We camped in Mbare and survived on a narrow budget. We would walk through Mbare to the training venue and touts made fun of us but we soldiered on because we had bigger dreams.

“Personally, I felt relieved when the team started camping at Girls High School. It is a friendlier environment.

“However, we need more sponsors, especially considering that the World Cup is a huge contest. The girls deserve more appreciation and motivation for them to gain confidence and perform even better.

“I am happy some corporates have even come on board to dress up the girls to boost their self-confidence” said Siyachitema.

The Gems’ resilience has, however, won them admiration from many neutrals and after receiving a US$11 000 cash boost from Government, they can walk with a spring in their step as they set their sights on Cape Town 2023.