Platinum Queens retain PNL title
PLATINUM Queens retained the title in the Premier Netball League as they were crowned champions after another unbeaten run this season.
The Zvishavane-based side won all their matches this season to claim top spot with 72 points.
Platinum Queens coach, Simbarashe Mlambo, attributed their success to hard work and commitment.
“The atmosphere is exhilarating, I am completely overwhelmed. I cannot believe it, you would think that one gets used to winning and the feeling is all the same. But trust me, it’s just a different feeling altogether and it gets better over the years . . . I am so happy.
“I think it’s all about hard work and definitely believing in the girls, and believing in the team, believing in the club.
“These girls have always maintained a high level of discipline and high level of commitment and their resilience is just outstanding. So I think it’s all about belief and we have always been a prayerful lot believing in God to work miracles for us,” said Mlambo.
In the final games played over the weekend, Platinum Queens beat Blue Angles 60-5.
They prevailed 42-17 against Harare Poly and defeated Mutare City 38-15.
They also overpowered Zupco 64-4 and won against Green Fuel 26-18.
“I think it’s all in maintaining a good profile and sound attitude as far as the team is concerned. I believe we had a good run and I believe we simply needed to prove ourselves and to do better (in) everything that we did, so we really had a good time.”
Platinum Queens repeated the same feat as last year when they completed the season without losing a game.
Mlambo acknowledged their rivals such as ZDF for giving them a good run during the season although they maintained their dominance. The Platinum Queens coach said believing in themselves as a team made the difference as they fought to defend the title.
“I think teams are really doing well. We had a good run, we won by marginal scores against
ZDF, against Ngezi, and against Green Fuel and I think everybody is really doing well.
“The level of competition is getting stiffer and stiffer, even Filchrist is not a pushover anymore and many clubs are trying to do so much to improve the quality of their teams and their play. So we actually faced a lot of tricky opponents and that makes us love to celebrate our victory more.
“I think when you have beaten a team before and you play them again as in playing GreenFuel, playing ZDF, Ngezi, Harare City, those are big teams and definitely they were very good, they gave us a challenge, a very tough challenge.
“Obviously we faced them in different bubbles, different conditions and I think what made a difference this year was that we actually believed in ourselves. We just went out there to really shine and we had psychological advantage because of how we have always performed as a team. So that was the main difference,” said Mlambo.
GreenFuel came second and ZDF finished third. On fourth place is Ngezi Platinum, followed by Harare City to complete the top five.