HARARE, Apr. 20 (NewsDay Live) — Zimbabwe has set its sights on continental dominance at an upcoming international korfball tournament in Malawi this September.
The national korfball team, currently ranked number one in Africa, will be aiming to defend its crown at the regional showcase.
Preparations for the tournament are already underway, with a focus on strengthening technical systems and refining player development pathways. Officials say the team will compete with discipline, structure and ambition.
“Preparations for Malawi are already underway. We are strengthening our technical structures, refining our player development systems, and ensuring that when we step onto the court, we are not just representing Zimbabwe, but doing so with organisation, discipline and purpose,” said Zimbabwe Korfball Federation (ZKF) president Tarirai Chadebah.
“We are going there to compete seriously, to represent the country at the highest level and to come back with results,” he added.
Beyond competition, the federation is intensifying efforts to secure private sector partnerships, positioning korfball as a growing commercial and social platform.
“At the same time, we are opening a deliberate and structured conversation with corporate Zimbabwe. What we are building now requires partners who understand that sport is no longer just about participation. It is an industry and a platform for visibility, engagement and long-term value,” Chadebah said.
He added that success in Malawi will hinge on both on-court performance and off-court support.
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“Those two elements — performance on the international stage and strong local partnerships — will define the next phase of Zimbabwean korfball,” he said.
Chadebah also emphasised that sponsorship should be viewed as a strategic investment rather than philanthropy.
“This is not a call for sponsorship as charity. It is an opportunity to align with a sport that already has continental dominance, a growing national footprint and a strong youth base,” he said.
Korfball, introduced in Zimbabwe in 2005, shares similarities with netball but features a mixed-gender format in which teams of four men and four women compete together, aiming to score by shooting into a netless ring known as a korf.
Since its introduction, the sport has gained traction across primary and secondary schools, and more recently at tertiary level.
Zimbabwe’s rise has also been recognised internationally. The country is ranked number one in Africa in senior korfball and 33rd globally, and has received a World Korfball Award in recognition of its progress in the mixed-gender discipline.
