Anxiety grips Gems

07 Aug, 2022 - 00:08 0 Views
Anxiety grips Gems

The Sunday Mail

Veronica Gwaze

Anxiety has gripped the Gems as the start of the 2023 Netball World Cup qualifiers draws near.

The team have been training at Girls High School in preparation for the qualifiers scheduled for August 20 to August 27 in Pretoria, South Africa.

It will be a do-or-die assignment for co-coaches Ropafadzo Mutsauki and Tatenda Shinya, who are under pressure to ensure Zimbabwe book their ticket to the global showcase to be held in Cape Town.

The Gems impressed on their debut in Liverpool, England, in 2019, and they now know how it feels to be up with the world’s best teams.

Zimbabwe are eyeing one of the two available slots after South Africa, Uganda and Malawi gained automatic entry based on their International Netball Federation rankings.

South Africa’s Spar Proteas are ranked fifth, Uganda are sixth, while Malawi are seventh.

Mutsauki acknowledged the pressure that comes with assignments of such magnitude.

“It is scary because this is the deep end. As coaches, we have to carry the cross and be answerable to some, if not most, of the issues, so we need to be at our best,” said Mutsauki.

“I believe we can do it again; there is positive energy in camp and you can tell the entire team is bracing for business.”

The squad has been trimmed to 15, but only 14 players make it onto the team sheet.

Foreign-based goal shooter Joice Takaedza will be joining the squad in South Africa, where she is expected to fill the yawning gap in the team’s shooting third.

Mutsauki can also count on the experience of skipper Felisitus Kwangwa, who plays for English side Surrey Storm, and mid-court player Patricia Mauladi.

“We regrouped on Friday after a week-long break and we are now focusing on a smaller squad as we intensify and finalise our preparations.

“We are concentrating on the tactical aspect of the game now — set plays, physical fitness and building as many combinations as we can so that we do not have any hiccups during the tournament.

“Morale is high, the players are showing the zeal and everything seems to be on course because we are speaking one language. You can tell that mentally they are ready,’’ he added.

Shinya, who will be taking on his first major international assignment, indicated that he is aware of what is expected of him.

The young coach and umpire is also alive to the fact that expectations are high that they will guide the Gems to the World Cup.

“Mutsauki has been on the deck for some time; I have so much to learn from him both in terms of the game itself and mentally,” Shinya said.

“As coaches we should know how to approach each game, we should understand our players’ strengths and weaknesses and be able to bring the best out of each one of them . . .

“I know we have a reputation to uphold after the 2019 World Cup; everyone looks forward to the Gems making it again; however, we should not succumb to the pressure,” he said.

Kwangwa believes mental strength is what they need the most to handle high-pressure games.

“With mid-court veterans like vice captain Claris Kwaramba, Mauladi, Ursula Ndlovu and Progress Moyo, shooters Sharon Bwanali and Takaedza, we have the experience; so with the new faces in the mix, it is exciting because we are less predictable,” she said.

“Shooting inconsistencies is something you can sometimes get away with if you can be able to have a strong defence that is able to get the ball … that is one of the biggest lessons I got from my other home, so the question is: Can we get enough balls defensively to ensure that those inconsistencies do not become our downfall?”

The Gems skipper also spoke of the need to capitalise on their speed.

“The younger ones have the speed and agility that we need, while the seniors come in with the experience, so if we all give our best and work as a team, I am sure we can do it.

“However, the fresh blood needs to stay focused. I know how such high-level games can take a toll mentally, so as senior players, we also have a huge role to play…mental strength is key.’’

 

Provisional Squad

Felisitus Kwangwa, Sharleen Makusha, Elizabeth Mushore, Claris Kwaramba, Nicole Muzanenhamo, Nobukhosi Ndlovu, Beaula Hlungwani, Ursula Ndlovu, Sharon Bwanali, Chipo Shoko, Tafadzwa Matura, Joice Takaedza, Priscilla Ndlovu, Patricia Mauladi, Progress Moyo

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