BY MAGRETH RUZVIDZO ENGLAND-BASED Zimbabwe netball team captain Felisitus Kwangwa believes the positive morale in the team will stand them in good stead ahead of their participation in the Netball World Cup qualifiers which get underway in Pretoria, South Africa on Saturday.
The Gems are expected to leave the country today for the qualifiers which are scheduled to run until August 27.
It has been a long preparation journey for the team as they started their first camp in March before the second in July and their ongoing final camp with the final 15 players.
Zimbabwe has been placed together with Tanzania, Botswana, Namibia and the hosts, South Africa in Pool A while Uganda, Eswatini, Malawi, Kenya and Zambia are in Pool B.
The top two teams from each pool will progress to the semi-finals while the remaining teams in each pool will play cross-pool classification matches for positions.
Zimbabwe will take on Tanzania in their first match on August 22 before taking Namibia the following day. Their third match will be against South Africa on August 24 and they will close their pool matches against Botswana.
Kwangwa, who had an impressive season in England, backed the new crop of players who have graduated from the Young Gems to make an impact at senior level.
“We have new faces in the team of course but the good thing is, quite a lot of them have passed through the junior team, so they are quite used to the system though it’s their first time at senior level. There is not much difference,” Kwangwa said.
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“As a team, we have been trying to create bonds and the good thing is everyone in the camp is loving, caring and I think if you care and trust a person who is next to you it’s easier for you to achieve the same goal because you’ll be sailing in the same direction.”
The Gems captain said she was aware of the tough competition they will face in Pretoria but backed the team to book a slot for the World Cup next year.
“I can say we have really worked hard for the past six weeks in preparation for the games and from what I have seen, I am so confident that as a team we are going to bring the results that we all love: securing a place for ourselves for the 2023 Netball World Cup,” she said.
“We are confident of finishing first in our group, I know it’s going to be a very tough competition and I know everyone who is coming for the qualifiers have actually been working hard to secure a positive result. So, I can say what we have been working on as a team is to make sure that we finish first in our group no matter what circumstances or whatever teams we are going to face. With that goal, we will be able to achieve what we want.”
The squad
Felistus Kwangwa, Chipo Shoko, Priscilla Ndlovu, Claris Kwaramba, Tanaka Sharleen Makusha, Elizabeth Mushore, Progress Moyo, Ursula Ndlovu, Beaulla Hlungwane, Patricia Mauladi, Sharon Bwanali, Tafadzwa Matura, Nobukhosi Ndlovu, Nicole Muzanenhamo, and Joice Takaidza.
- Follow Magreth on Twitter @MagrethRuzvidzo
