Makunde names final team

ZIMBABWE netball team coach Lloyd Makunde yesterday named his final 12 for the African Championships in Lusaka, Zambia, from August 13 to 18.

The championships are also acting as the qualifying competition for next year’s World Cup in Liverpool, England.

With the stakes high at the championships, Makunde retained the bulk of the regular players with one of the country’s top goal defenders, Felistas Kwangwa, bouncing back into the team.

Kwangwa had been sidelined for several months due to injury and she made it into the final team scheduled to leave for Zambia today.

Goal shooter Sharon Bwanali and goal defender Claris Kwaramba, who were part of the Under-21 side that took part at the World Youth Cup last year in Botswana, also made the team.

Makunde said the return of Kwangwa is a boost for the Gems and they had to blend in some young players into the team as they are also looking at the future of the game.

“We have new additions in Sharon Bwanali and Claris Kwaramba, both actually graduated from the Under-21 team that took part at the World Youth Cup.

“They actually played at the World Cup of which no seniors have ever played at that level. So we don’t have any worries about exposure because they are better exposed than the seniors. ‘’I am not worried about their experience. “Felistas is actually playing better than before... she is actually a vital part of the team and we are so happy that she has returned.

‘’Actually the players we selected were chosen on merit. We were not looking at the previous experiences but at how they are playing at the moment,” said Makunde.

Zimbabwe will be up against Malawi, Botswana, Uganda, Namibia, Zambia and Kenya.

Makunde said their tricky assignment is against Kenya as they are not sure of their type of play.

“Kenya are unknown opponents, so we will take them as one of the best nations, that’s how we can go around them.

“We will play with caution. There is no room for complacency this time around, we know where we are and the camp has been better than before.

Team: Christine Kadandara, Felistas Kwangwa (vice-captain), Rudo Karume, Alice Tewera, Perpetua Siyachitema (captain), Ndaiziveyi Madzikangava, Patricia Mauladi, Claris Kwaramba, Ursula Ndlovu, Pauline Jani, Mercy Mukwadi, Sharon Bwanali.