ZINA turns to schools to rebuild netball pipeline

ZIMBABWE Netball Association wants to take control of how players are developed, starting in schools and following them all the way to the national team.

The association is planning junior leagues from Under-14 up to Under-21, beginning at district level before spreading to provinces and a national competition. It is a direct response to a system that has leaned too heavily on trials at the top end.

Technical director John Banda says that approach is no longer enough.
“We have seen the value of the Zambezi Eagles feeding into the Gems, but that level also needs its own feeder,” said Banda.

“We cannot keep picking players at the last stage. We need to identify and follow them much earlier.”
The Eagles have given Zimbabwe a stronger base, and the results have shown. The Gems have moved from 13th to 11th on the World Netball rankings, a rise Banda links to a more organised pathway.

The next step is building numbers and consistency underneath that.
ZINA wants district leagues to act as the starting point, with regular competition for young players before they graduate into provincial and national structures. Clubs in the top flight will be expected to run junior teams, with development sides featuring on match days to keep them active.

It is about giving players more than just exposure. It is about tracking them.
“We want a system where a player can be followed from primary school through to elite level,” Banda said. “Then clubs must carry young players in their squads so they play regularly and improve.”

South Africa has built its strength on that kind of structure, with school competitions feeding directly into national programmes. Zimbabwe is trying to move in the same direction, but the plan comes with a familiar problem. Money.

ZINA says the project needs stable backing if it is to work. Current sponsorship mainly supports the senior team, the Zambezi Eagles and the Premier Netball League.

“Our biggest concern is funding,” Banda said. “This cannot be a short-term project. It needs proper support if it is going to work.”

The association is now pitching to companies to come on board, including naming rights for leagues and competitions.

“There is talent across the country,” Banda said. “What we need is a system that develops it properly.”

For years, Zimbabwe has relied on spotting players late. ZINA now wants to change that and build them from the ground up.