Sinokubonga Nkala
Tedious Manyepo, Zimpapers Sports Hub
THE Gems yesterday displayed the same medal colour they had on their chest in this same tournament last year.
But the feeling is completely different.
They were expected to give a polished act in this African Championship in Namibia.
They did that but not quite enough.
But then they did not entirely disappoint.
Three teams including winners South Africa, runners-up Uganda and Malawi have a better international ranking than Zimbabwe.
But Ropafadzo Mutsauki’s charges had the means to edge Uganda in the group stage and then Malawi yesterday in the bronze match to pin down third place.
The Gems rarely do this at tournaments.
Zimbabwe Netball Gems
That is the reason why Zimbabwe should celebrate winning this year’s bronze medal than the same piece in Botswana last year.
Zimbabwe were complacent or less competitive in 2023 when they failed to win gold when they were the best-ranked team in the whole field in the absence of the three giants.
They allowed Namibia and Zambia to finish above them and it was such a disappointing act from them.
They did not even celebrate that and it was understandable.
But yesterday, they thoroughly danced it out and it was again understandable.
All the protagonists were there this time around.
South Africa is the best ranked team in Africa followed by Malawi then Uganda.
Zimbabwe is fourth but these girls are working hard to get the points up.
Perhaps it should have been a silver medal to celebrate in the first place.
But after getting undoubtedly the most famous result at the tournament by beating Uganda 50-49 in the group stage, the Gems slackened a bit and forgot to concentrate then lost to Namibia in their final group game.
That pushed them to second and set them in the Spar Proteas’ course in the semi-final.
South Africa have the experience, the technique and they boast of world-class tactics too.
They have been the best team in the continent for more than a decade.
Despite pushing hard, the Gems still fell short and had another big task lined-up against Malawi who lost the other semi-final to Uganda.
And the Gems were up to it.
Malawi have accomplished stars and for years, they have beaten Zimbabwe with relative ease.
But the Gems have improved tremendously.
They never showed any nerves as they dominated play entirely, winning each of the four allotted quarters.
The first one was very difficult though.
Malawi threatened to run riot. It was frightening but the Felistus Kwangwa-skippered girls never panicked.
Felistus Kwangwa
They rarely do nowadays.
With Malawi working hard to get quick-fire points, Zimbabwe seemed to be losing the plot but then Anifa Luya, Kwangwa and the versatile Takadanaishe Assah Zimusi had the answers in mid-court and defence, tightening angles, intercepting and winning turn-overs.
It was a bit surprising they went out of the first quarter leading 14-13.
But that was confirmation of the Gems’ intent and by half-time, they were six points to the good going to the break leading 25-19.
They allowed their opponents to reduce the gap and by the end of the third quarter, it was 36-32 but still in their favour.
At this point, they needed the intelligence and everything else to wrap it up.
Elizabeth Mushore was commanding from the back to complement Zimusi and Kwangwa and Sharon Bwanali, getting firm supply from Nicole Muzanenhamo was effective under the ring.
Although it was tough in the final 15 minutes, the Gems maintained their four-point advantage to win 48-42 to take home the bronze.
Mutsauki gave all his girls a pat on the back.
“We needed to win this one and I am very happy we did that,” said Mutsauki.
“Everyone was keen and showed the right mentality. This is what we designed to do and we played exactly the way we had crafted it.
“Beating Malawi in a third-place play-off is no mean feat. I am happy for ZINA, happy for myself, happy for the girls and happy for Zimbabwe.”
The Gems will return from the sojourn today.
