THE ZIMBABWE team for Confederation of School Sports Association of Southern Africa (Cossasa) Games has expressed confidence that they will bring gold medals in ball games to be held in Windhoek, Namibia, starting tomorrow. VITALIS MOYO SPORTS REPORTER
The team, which has been in a weeklong camp at Founders’ High School in Bulawayo, will leave the country today for the games where they are expected to engage with teams from other countries within the Southern African region in the 14-and-under and the 17-and-under age categories.
Southern Eye Sport caught up with some of the teams during training sessions held at Founders yesterday. Netball Under-17 coach Simbarashe Mlambo of Pamushana High School said he had put together a strong side for this year’s edition of the games and was confident of a gold medal.
“We have had a shorter time to prepare for the games because of the National Youth Games that were taking place, but we have managed to put together a better side from the one we had last year. We are hoping for better results this time around and a gold medal,” Mlambo said.
“We have some of the girls that were part of last year’s team like the goalshooter Sharon Bwanali and goalattacker Ropafadzwa Muhwira who will play an instrumental role in our campaign in Namibia,” Mlambo added.
Also part of the team will be Stella Tea netball competition Player of the Tournament Karen Chimonyo, the competition’s best defender Patricia Mauladi as well as Nomagugu Makhalima who represented Bulawayo Province during the National Youth Games.
Zimbabwe will be taking the 14-and-under teams to the games for the first time as in the past edition they have fielded teams in the Under-17 age group only.
Gorge Chiurawa in charge of the Under-14 volleyball teams, said the junior teams would be looking to put up a good show. “Our preparations have been going on well except that we had a few injury scares during camp, but the players have healed and will be fit in time for the start of the games,” Chiurawa said.
