The Sunday Mail
Brighton Zhawi
THE Netball World Cup is just over a year away and Gems captain Felisitus Kwangwa believes Zimbabwe is building an “exciting” team that will realise its full potential by qualifying for the global showcase set for South Africa.
Cape Town will host the 16th edition of the competition – which will also be Africa’s first time to host the senior Netball World Cup – from July 28 to August 6 next year.
Zimbabwe made its debut at the tournament in Liverpool, England, in 2019.
Kwangwa is upbeat about the team’s chances to progress to next year’s tourney.
“I hope in August we will be celebrating our qualification to the 2023 Netball World Cup.
“I think everything is sailing in the right direction. I am glad that the new players who have been introduced are adjusting well.
“The team rebuilding is going well,” she said. South Africa is also set to be the venue of the World Cup qualifiers in Pretoria next month.
There are two slots available after Uganda qualified through their ranking, while South Africa made it as hosts.
Preparations are already underway as the Gems played in the Confederation of Southern Africa Netball Associations (COSANA) Championship in Malawi last month.
The team is expected to assemble in Harare today for another camp.
The planned tour of the United Kingdom for a series of matches against Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland this month is yet to be confirmed.
Kwangwa also spoke on her fine season in the Vitality Netball Super League with Surrey Storm.
The 26-year-old defender bagged two individual awards – Coach’s Player of the Season and Fans’ Player of the Season – despite missing the first two matches of the season.
“Honestly, I never expected to get any of those, but I really feel honoured to have them. This happened to be one of the best seasons in my career,” she said.
“I think my coaches felt I was that player who deserved to walk away with that award because of what I displayed when I joined the team. Remember, I joined the team late after they had played two games, which means I missed the whole pre-season and of course the first two matches.
“For someone who wasn’t with the team, I think the expectation was that I was going to struggle to gel with everyone, but shockingly when I got there it was like I never missed any session with the team.”
She said her performance was due to hard work.
“It really helped my fitness levels and of course the skills, and the other reason is I think I have adjusted well to the new league.”
Kwangwa also credits the presence of Ugandan star player Peace Proscovia for her successful season.
“She played a sisterly role and would also correct me where I was going wrong as a player.”
