Gems fine-tune for Netball World Cup in Cape Town

Zim Now Writer

The country's senior netball team, the Gems, are putting their final touches ahead of the 2023 Netball World Cup which begins on July 28 in Cape Town, South Africa.

All the 15 players who were named in the Gems World Cup squad have reported for camp and were in action this Saturday as the senior netball team took on men's teams at the City Sports Centre.

The foreign-based trio of Captain Felisitus Kwangwa, who plays for Surrey Storm in England and Australian-based duo of Joice Takaidza and Nalani Makunde, who is yet to make her debut, are now part of the cast.

With the Gems having a number of new players and youngsters, Kwangwa, who is also a Correctional Services Officer, challenged the team to enjoy the stage.

"The World Cup is the highest stage, but when you go there don't think about that; just go and enjoy your game. Try to leave your best on the court and that helps. I think that's what helped me, I just enjoyed my game," she said.

Kwangwa left a mark at the 2019 World Cup where she was close to being player of the tournament despite Zimbabwe finishing in 8th position and her performances earned her a move to Surrey Storm.

Shooter Joice Takaidza was one player who also made her name at the last World Cup, but has been struggling with an ankle injury where she needed reconstruction twice.

“It was tough to be here, it was very tough. I had ankle surgery twice and had to work extra hard just to be able to be back on the court. I have been spending lots of hours in the gym and now I play for two clubs just so that I can be fit enough to represent my country. Saturdays I play for my club then on Sunday I drive 250 km to represent a state team so that I could just get back to represent Zimbabwe.”)

Zimbabwe will leave for Cape Town on the 20th and will play four warm up matches ahead of the tournament that starts on the 28th.

The Gems have a date against heavyweights Australia in their first Group A match before later taking on Oceania sides Fiji and Tonga.