The Sunday Mail
Brighton Zhawi
The Zimbabwe senior national netball team officially became ‘Gems’ on a road trip to Malawi back in 2013, a name that is now synonymous with the sport given their impeding trip to the UK for the Netball World cup next month.
Letitia Chipandu, the Zimbabwe netball association president smiles when reminded how Gems became Gems.
“I have forgotten the real details, but I know it’s a funny story,” replied the Zimbabwe netball association president.
Back in 2013 on a hired commuter omnibus to Blantyre for the Africa Netball Championships, a question was posed by this writer. “What is this team called?”
“We have never really thought about it, how about we call them The Birds,” replied Chipandu as the Iveco kombi hired from one Mavhiyo negotiated potholes along the Nyamapanda road. “Isn’t birds the name for the national cricket team,” I interjected.
Chipandu looked outside the window pondering, then suddenly she alit.
“We are a country rich in minerals, tine ngoda isu, tiri ngoda, we are the Gems,” she said. Instant approval came from the other Zina officials and from then, the squad which included captain Perpetual Siyachitema, Pauline Jani, Netsai Muchemwa, Miriam Mwangeyi, Caroline Matura, former vice captain Clara Gumbo amongst others, began to call themselves The Gems. Today marks 11 days before the Gems make their maiden World Cup appearance when they take on Sri Lanka on July 12 and Chipandu is proud Zimbabwe will be introduced by that very name. “It’s really special, it has been a long challenging journey, but I am really grateful we have achieved this rare feat,” Chipandu said. Zimbabwe is the only team making a first World Cup appearance and is one of Africa’s four representatives at the tournament running from July 12-21 in Liverpool.
“I have a big thank you, a really big one to a lot of people, of course I cannot name them all, but a number of people have made this possible,” said an appreciative Chipandu.
“Naph and Nash make these players, clubs take over, so school coaches deserve a big thank you, so are clubs with some of them offering employment opportunities. “It’s really wonderful, that work and effort that has gone into making this team and this trip. “The uniformed forces have given us fit players, the Zina staff has worked hard, journalists, like you Brighton put us on the map and we can never forget how The Sunday Mail covered and still covers us.”
Zimbabwe go into the World Cup ranked 14. Whatever the outcome, the teams will always be the country’s Gems who have made the country and the girl child proud.
