The Sunday Mail
Veronica Gwaze
ZIMBABWE senior netball team will capitalise on height and speed on transition as they appear at the Diamond Challenge to be held in Polokwane, South Africa November 26 to December 2.
The Lloyd Makunde led charges will also use the event to start their build up ahead of the 2019 World Cup to be held at Echo arena in Liverpool, England.
Makunde said despite wanting to bring home the Diamond cup, the tourney serves as a preparation platform ahead of the World Cup.
“At the African Championships, we had a very good squad but they had a difficult time because they had tall opponents.
“From the advert we circulated a few weeks back, we got a few tall ladies and so this time there will be fresh blood in the camp to bolster the squad,” said Makunde.
The netball Gems troop into camp on the November 11.
“This is going to be our first task after the World Cup qualifiers so it will be a platform for us to try out new combinations and formations.
“It is going to be an intense and short camp and only those who deserve will make it into the squad.
“Sometimes we have challenges of players who think they deserve positions and so it is right for them to train when they wish or come up with fake stories or injuries.
“This time we adopt a new approach to such things and it is determination, willingness and seriousness that will contribute to making it onto the squad,” said Makunde.
He said the squad will capitalise on height, tight marking and speed on transition.
“On transition are looking at how to quickly we move the ball from defenders to the shooters in the goal circle.
“Drawn into the same pool will world giants Australia at the World cup, we need fast short balls and so if we are to adopt that type of play, am sure no team can beat us.
“During the qualifiers, our players would usually improve in the second quarter but this time we do not want to waste that entire quarter because we have very strong teams.
“We have to come up with different formations and a squad that can quickly read the opponents and switch to the appropriate plan,” he said.
At the South African contest, Zimbabwe will face giants South Africa, Uganda, Namibia, Malawi and two other international teams yet to be named.
Makunde believes it will be a fair competition.
“Our biggest challenge could be Uganda so we need to find a suitable match for tall Ugandan shooter Peace Preskovia.
“She is very tall and has a lot of experience so instead of entirely banking on cutting supply we need tall defense to frustrate her and we are safe.
“As for Malawi and South Africa, we simply need pace but for the international clubs, we sure are going to learn a thing or two,” said the gaffer.
