Netballers plead for league return
Netball players across the country are appealing to the relevant authorities to consider the return of the league albeit under strict conditions.
Netball was last played in March 2020 before being suspended just after three rounds of action owing to the Covid-19.
“We can’t go for two seasons without action. In terms of fitness many will find it hard to fully get back to form and also the more we stay out of action means many players will be forced into doing into doing illegal things like drug abuse amongst many others because netball was keeping people away from such,” laments Tenax Queens’ Edzai Nkosana.
“We don’t know when it’s going to end so we just need to learn to co-exist with it but at the same time adhering to the Covid-19 protocols.
“It is really difficult for most players especially those that rely on winning bonuses. Unlike some of us we are fully employed we are safe but still netball has been our live son we hope for its return soon,” she added.
Unlike many other sports codes that were given the greenlight to resume early, netball was not included.
It was only around November 2020 that, it was greenlighted to resume but way too late for the league to re-start, and when they were set to start, sports was suspended again by the Sports and Recreation Commission(SRC).
ZDF Queens’ Irene Mugabe said: “We will adhere to the regulations they give us but we really need to get back to action.”
Glow Petroleum player Beaula Hlungwane said: “We truly miss netball, for some of us netball helps us to stay fit. But now due to the nature of my job I am not able to do some workouts. I am fully employed with Glow Petroleum and without netball now it’s hard for me to do training sessions. We hope for its return but we will follow the regulations.”
“Most of players survive on winning bonuses. In Zimbabwe the money we get from netball is not enough. We rely on winning bonuses and travelling allowances, but now that we are not playing, we are not getting anything,
“We grew up playing netball and that is all we are good at. Since netball has been stopped, life is difficult for us. If football returns our fortunes could turn. It would be good if netball returns so that we get back to work,” another player said.
Goldreef Queens’ Nicole Muzanenamo also hopes for the return of netball soon.
“Netball has been my source of income since I started playing professionally. We were receiving allowances ranging from training, transport, out of pocket during match days as well as bonuses, but since last year there have been nothing.
“I am a single mother and my child needs to go to form 1 this year, I don’t even know where to start from. I think if the league, association can help us to make sure that the league returns I promise most people will adhere to the Covid-19 regulations,” another player said.