Online Reporter
Tadious Manyepo
Zimpapers Sports Hub
GEMS coach Ropafadzo Mutsauki is hoping to see his girls leverage on their recent UK tour experience when they play in the African Championships set for Namibia.
The seven-day annual jamboree throws off at the MTC Dome in Swakopmund on Saturday.
The Gems are expected to leave tomorrow for the fiesta.
And Mutsauki wants his girls to step up to the plate when they come up to face the continent.
He has been with his players over the past week fine-tuning for the meet.
The veteran gaffer is drawing a lot of confidence from the fact that the Gems recently gave a good account of themselves in the Celtic Cup played in Glasgow, Scotland.
The Gems were competing in an international tournament in the UK, outside the World Cup, for the first time.
The tournament featured Zimbabwe, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
And the Gems finished third after beating Northern Ireland in the bronze match.
They also played Wales twice in friendly games in Cardiff before they plunged into the Celtic Cup.
The Zimbabweans then concluded their tour with another friendly against England A side who they narrowly beat before returning home on November 15.
And it is this recent experience that Mutsauki is banking as he leads the Gems into the battle that will also feature the hosts Namibia, Uganda, South Africa, Eswatini, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi and Zambia.
“We are in camp and readying for the African Championships.
“It will be a tough battle against some of the best teams in Africa like Malawi, South Africa and Uganda,” said Mutsauki.
“But we are banking on the experience we picked last month from playing some of the best teams in the world.
“I hope to see the same spirit they exhibited in the UK at this contest. If they can put that same energy and that same desire, I see us doing wonders.”
Mutsauki has kept the same team that participated in the Celtic Cup as intact as possible with the only three changes coming as a result of injuries to Tafadzwa Mawango, Blessing Kahari and Chipo Shoko.
The other 12 players who were in the UK are all in the squad and that is the reason why the Harare City mentor is seeing things positively.
“We have basically the same team we had in England. They have built intact chemistry and we are looking forward to seeing them do well in the African Championships,” added Mutsauki.
“I am very sure the team will be highly competitive. We were together for almost a month before the Celtic Cup, we came back and then had a break for almost two weeks and we are back together again.
“That’s why we are very confident we will do well.”
Gems squad
Takadanaishe Assah Siyai Zimusi, Tanaka Makusha, Nicole Muzanenamo , Kelly Myambo,
Thandazile Ndhlovu, Anifa Luya, Faith Mutero , Thandekile Mahlangu, Thandiwe Mashore, Elizabeth Mushore, Thelma Masaure, Sharon Bwanali, Nobukhosi Ndlovu, Felisitus Kwangwa , Ursula Ndlovu
Technical: Agnes Chiroodza (Team Manager), Ropafadzo Mutsauki (Head Coach), Simbarashe Mlambo (Assistant Coach), Nyembesi Kwava (Physiotherapist)
