The Sunday Mail
Veronica Gwaze
CORRECTIONAL Queens can now claim to be the undisputed champions of Zimbabwe netball.
This comes after the uniformed forces side wrapped up yet another successful season with the easiest of victories over Zvishavane- based FC Platinum Queens at Chikurubi Training Deport grounds yesterday.
The win saw the Harare giants claim the Rainbow Netball Amatuer League title, making two titles in a row following their Super League title last year.
Following a dispute, the Correctional Queens did not defend their title, having abandoned the Super League which runs under the Zimbabwe Netball Association (ZINA).
They finished their race unbeaten after claiming all 20 victories; something coach Christopher Simeone reckons was a miracle.
As far as the match goes; third-placed Platinum Queens could have made a game out of the encounter, but failed to balance the scale against the prison heavy weights.
Despite benching Correctional Queens Captain Felistas Kwangwa and Ndaizivei Madzikanganwa who also feature in the national team, half time had the Correctional queens already celebrating courtesy of a 30-13 lead.
The miners introduced slight changes in the second half but still the gap widened to a 53-28 fulltime score.
Simeone said he did not foresee his charges winning the title because his team had been ravaged by numerous injuries and maternity issues over the course of the season.
“I actually did not think we could pull it off, in the second half of the season, to be frank,” he said.
“I was partly not optimistic about our chances because some of my first choice players where away due to various reasons.
“We had to recall Kwanga who was away on study leave to cover the huge gap we had in the defence.
“I really don’t know what happened to the other teams, how they failed to frustrate a team that had to make do with second choice players?” said Simeone.
FC Platinum Queens Head Coach Simbarashe Mlambo hailed his charges.
“We actually did not expect a win because Correctional Queens are a formidable team.
“We cannot compare ourselves to them, but I am very happy with the performance that my team put up.
“For a team that finished 10th last season, we have done very well this season to finish third.
“Such an improvement is very satisfying,” he said.
Mlambo went on lament the absence of his Goal Defender Claris Kwaramba‘s absence.
“If Kwaramba was around, I am sure things could have been different because she adds a real platinum touch to the game,” he said.
Kwaramba who also features on the national team as the youngest Gem is currently sitting for her Advanced Level examinations at Pamushana High School.
