By Tendai Chisiri
Gems in a group photo
The Ministry of Women Affairs, Community Small and Medium Enterprises Development handed over national fabric made blazers and t-shirts to the senior women Netball team with the latter anticipating a top four finish at the 2023 Vitality Netball World Cup to be held in Cape Town, South Africa.
Speaking at the handover ceremony in the capital Minister Sithembiso Nyoni said her ministry is mandated to empower women and girls in all socio-economic sectors of our economy.
” Gone are the days when the girl child was discouraged from actively participating in sport as a career”.
The girl child is capable of achieving one’s dreams through sport and netball is one of the many sporting games which empowers the girl child socially and economically,” she said.
” As a Ministry we felt that before the Gems leave for the Netball World Cup 2023 to be held in Cape Town, South Africa, we should boost the spirit of the Gems and show them that we are rallying behind them and we wish them nothing but success in the upcoming games,” she added.
The ministry is really proud of the Gems for lifting the country flag high by qualifying for the World Cup.
“Through support from one of our SMEs Taflow Private Limited here represented by Mr Chitiyo who is based in Bindura”.
“We saw it fit that as the Gems leave for South Africa they should carry with them a national identity in the form of blazers without national fabric,” she revealed.
She urged national teams of various sporting disciplines to embrace the national dress and make it part of their sporting regalia.
She also thanked Taflow Private Limited for designing beautiful blazers for the Gems and their officials as well as donating the T-shirts.
“The Gems will be representing the nation and I know they will bring home the much coveted cup.To the Gems ably led by captain Felistas Kwangwa we say Go Gems Go,” she concluded.
In attendance Minister of Youth, Sports, Arts and Recreation, Kirsty Coventry rallied behind the girls to give their best.
“We very much appreciate the gesture that has been shown. All of our ladies look wonderful and I will make sure I bring my jacket to Cape town as I come to cheer you guys,” she said.
She thanked Zimbabwe Netball Association (ZINA) president Leticia Chipandu for the hard work.
“I can remember when I was training, it was about trying to take it be in the moment, that game and then think about the next. Don’t think about the end game right at the beginning,” she advised the Gems.
“You are going to have an incredible opportunity to be up there and play other women from around the world, the best in the world. So use that environment that you are going to be on to create that excitement for you as a team,” she said.
She said Zimbabwe is fully behind the ladies.” We are fully supporting you even though we will not be there all physically in person,” she added.
She thanked Sports Recreation Commission (SRC) for moving the journey with the national federations and to continue doing that.
“As government, we acknowledge the sponsors that have come on board to support the Gems,” she said.
“We appreciate that as Leticia Chipandu says that we have so many children to look after as a ministry and it is always helpful when the corporate world not just believe in a team but see the value and support our team,” she added.
“So to NedBank, Spar, Zimbabwe Olympic Committee and to other sponsors on board and who are to ce on board we appreciate you,” she revealed.
ZINA president Letcia Chipandu said the preparations are going so well with the team having won most of their games.
“We are very happy with our preparation.We have managed to win many games . Even the preparations for the World Cup qualifiers were so marvellous as we used the COSAFA games in Malawi to strengthen our team,” she revealed.
She revealed she is aiming a top four finish at the 2023 Vitality Netball World Cup.
Gems wearing the T-shirts
Gems coach Ropafadzo Mutsauki is upbeat that his team will fare well. “So far so good, the preparations is going well,” he said in an interview.
“We have managed to retain five old players who features in the last World Cup. We also so have three foreign based players. I believe our squad is strong as we are not having injuries during the training,” he revealed.
Australia based Joyce Takaidza in an interview also concurred that the top four finish is possible.
“This is not the first time am turning for the Gems and am very much confident that we will be able to be in the top four,” she said.
39-year-old player says she does not see retirement near. ” I believe one gets better with age like wine so am.lookimg forward to be with the Gems in future,” she revealed.
The youngest player in the team, 19-year-old Thandazile Ndlovu said she is very happy to be included in the team.
“I am 19-years-old and will start my university studies next year at Bindura University,” she said. She is looking forward to do her studies when whilst playing Netball.
“I will balance sport and my studies because I can have an opportunity to study abroad through sport,” she added.
Sharleen Makusha who turns for Glow Petroleum in the Rainbow Amateur National League (RANL) is ecstatic to be included in the last 29 women squad for the Vitality Netball World Cup.
“We are four of us who have been called for international from RANL. Others are from National Premier League and abroad,” she revealed.
It is not her first time to don the national team jersey as she played in the national U-19 in 2017 and senior team in 2019.
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