Gems back in the groove

FOUR months after their Netball World Cup campaign in South Africa, the Gems might have been seemingly forgotten but they are still very much active.

Next month, they will feature at the 13th edition of the Africa Netball Cup in Botswana between November 26 and December 6.

The tournament was moved from Uganda.

For the first time, the tournament will see men’s teams also battling for silverware under the Africa Men’s Netball Cup.

But, as the Gems regroup for their next assignment, it has since emerged that there are some outstanding issues from the recent World Cup that remain unresolved.

The Gems finished 13th in South Africa, down from the eighth-place finish they managed in Liverpool in 2019.

The composition of the team’s technical crew — where coach Ropafadzo Mutsauki is assisted by Tatenda Shinya and Tapiwa Chirenda, while Agnes Chiroodza is the team manager — has also been questioned.

Zimbabwe had the smallest technical department out of all the teams at the World Cup.

They were also the only side with an all-male cast of coaches.

Faith Zimidzi, a netball pundit, feels there is need to blend female coaches in the setup.

“It is high time we recognise our female coaches and give them the platform,” she said.

“There are coaches like Sibonginkosi Dube at Green Fuel, Perpetua Siyachitema at Glow Petroleum and Platinum Queens’ Sithembile Banda leading in local netball.

“They are dominant forces and their teams top the log tables.”

Welfare issues have reportedly left many disgruntled.

“A player should go for a tournament knowing their wages because they survive on the game.

“Having a clear contract will give them room to negotiate if they feel like doing so and, besides, walking on to the court knowing what they will be paid will give them the urge to want to play harder,” added Zimidzi.

It is believed the Gems brand is also poorly marketed.