Mutsauki emphasises good preps after tough WC draw
THE Zimbabwe senior netball national team coach Ropafadzo Mutsauki yesterday said the Gems need to put in more time and resources into their preparations for the 2023 Netball World Cup after they were drawn in a tough group headlined by record world champions Australia.
The draw conducted in East London on Wednesday night placed the Gems in Group A along with Australia, Tonga and Fiji.
Apart from Australia, it looks a fair group for Zimbabwe but Mutsauki refused to underrate the two other teams — Tonga and Fiji — who he admitted he does not have full knowledge about.
Having not seen much of Tonga in action, but knowing that they are ranked number eight in the world, makes them a tough prospect. Zimbabwe are ranked further down on number 13 in the world rankings while Fiji are 15th.
“Our goal is to win games at the tournament and see how far we can go,” said Mutsauki.
“There is a need to pay attention to all our opponents and how they play.
“I understand Tonga are a very hard working team and they do have focus. There is a need to research more on how they play as we go about our preparations.
“This game against Tonga is likely to make the big difference for us in the group. They need to be treated with caution as not much of their history is known by us for now, which makes them dangerous. Fiji are slow in terms of movement, but they are giants in stature,” said Mutsauki.
The Gems have already started their preparations for the global event as they look to grace the stage for the second time, having also qualified for the previous edition held in England.
They recently took part in the Spar Diamond Challenge in South Africa where their resolve was tested by South Africa’s Proteas team, the second-tier President’s and Scotland.
“Having benefited from the Pretoria tournament, there is still a need to have more invites and to invite other teams as part of the preparations.
“We have retained the core of our team from the last World Cup but the door remains open for fresh talent to strengthen the team.
“We are not expecting many changes but winning spirit is a must for the team. Our shooting and defence are a major priority for us to do well at the tournament.”
Zimbabwe’s toughest game should be against 11-time champions Australia, who were runners-up to New Zealand at the last edition held in England.
Australia are currently the highest ranked team in the world.
Prior to the draw, the top eight teams — as per their world rankings — had already been seeded into their groups, with Australia and Tonga in Group A, England and Malawi in Group B, South Africa and Jamaica in Group C, and New Zealand and Uganda in Group D.
Scotland were the third side to join Group B alongside world number three side England as the 9th-12th ranked teams were drawn, with Barbados the final team added.
Hosts South Africa will take on Jamaica, Wales and Sri Lanka in Group C, while Zimbabwe and Fiji joined Australia and Tonga in Group A.
In the fourth and final Group D, World Cup holders New Zealand will face off against Uganda, Trinidad and Tobago and Singapore as they look to retain their crown.
Zimbabwe are among the four African nations — together with South Africa, Uganda and Malawi — set to represent the continent at this event.
“We need to be cautious and our goal is to win as a team. We are happy as an African representative to show our skill,” said Mutasuki.
The 2023 Netball World Cup will take place in Cape Town, South Africa, from July 28 to August 6, 2023, with 16 teams taking part.
South Africa, together with Australia, England, Jamaica, New Zealand, and Uganda got automatic qualification due to their world ranking.
Zimbabwe first participated in the 2019 edition held in Liverpool. Coach Mutsauki said he was thrilled that his side had made it two in a row after emerging from the qualifiers.
In their maiden appearance, the Gems finished an impressive eighth overall position and Mutsauki hopes all the four African teams can get into the top six in Cape Town.
“We need to expose our players to more international games so that their morale will be at par. That was the major effect in our last two games that we lost to South Africa and Malawi (during the qualifiers).
“Those two teams have got a lot of exposure, we also need that exposure. I believe that with their help we can achieve our goal as Africa.
“Our goal is to be in the top six, all the African teams, which is going to be a big achievement for Africa Netball. For all the hard work that we are doing as Africa Netball, I think we deserve to be in the top six.
“It’s only that some of the countries are disadvantaged because of the lack of resources and funds so we can’t have time to play as many test matches for a better ranking,” he said.
2023 Netball World Cup Groups: Group A: Australia, Tonga, Zimbabwe, Fiji
Group B: England, Malawi, Scotland, Barbados Group C: South Africa, Jamaica, Wales, Sri Lanka Group D: New Zealand, Uganda, Trinidad and Tobago, Singapore