Diamonds are gems…Zim netball pride upbeat on Challenge Cup

Raymond Jaravaza

A MIXED bag of opponents is what the Gems can expect to meet in the Diamond Netball Challenge Cup in Pretoria, starting from 22 to 26 November.

The tournament will feature Zimbabwe, Malawi, Scotland as well as two sides from South Africa — the Proteas and the President’s XII.

The Gems will use the tournament as a build-up to the 2023 Netball World Cup, which will be staged in Cape Town.

The team commenced camp for the Diamond Challenge Cup last month.

“The fitness levels are impressive, we can really improvement. The new players are blending in well and I’m happy to say that it didn’t take time for them to fit into the system.

“They are not afraid of competition but are rather looking forward to making it into the playing squad,” said coach Ropafadzo Mutsauki.

The Gems are training together with the Under-19 squad – the Young Gems – with the idea being to cast the net wider by involving junior players.

The Young Gems are preparing for the AUSC Region 5 Games that will take place in Lilongwe, Malawi, from December 2-11.

Gems provisional squad
Tadanaishe Assa Zimisi, Rudo Simbi (Harare City Queens), Sharon Bwanali, Tafadzwa Matura (ZDF Queens), Sharleen Makusha, Sthabile Manyukire, Lynette Tanhira, Elizabeth Mushore (Platinum Queens),Ursula Ndlovu, Nobukhosi Ndlovu, Beaular Hlungwane (Glow Petroleum), Kudakwashe Machongwe (Correctional Services), Nicole Muzanenhamo, Tandekile Mahlangu, Thandazile Ndlovu (Greenfuel) and Felistus Kwangwa (Surrey Storm).

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