Zimbabwe’s netball captain, Felistus Kwangwa, is urging her team to sharpen their performance as they face Malawi this afternoon in the bronze medal match of the African Championships in Namibia.
The Gems, coached by Ropafadzo Mutsauki, were left ruing missed opportunities and disorganization during their semi-final defeat to South Africa, which handed their opponents a comfortable win.
Zimbabwe could have avoided South Africa in the semi-finals had they secured victory in their final Pool B game against Namibia. However, a lackluster performance relegated them to second place in the group, setting up a clash with the continent’s top-ranked team.
With Uganda beating Malawi in the other semi-final, Zimbabwe now faces a tough battle for third place in a highly anticipated encounter.
The Gems, who secured bronze in last year’s competition in Botswana, were aiming for a better finish this time. However, Kwangwa emphasized that their focus must now shift entirely to today’s must-win match to ensure they return home with a medal.
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“We are disappointed as a team to have fallen short in the semi-finals,” said Kwangwa. “Our goal was to make it to the final after finishing third last year.
“This match against Malawi is crucial, and we have to give it everything we’ve got. It’s a do-or-die game for us, and we must be clinical in front of the ring. Every chance we get needs to count.”
Kwangwa acknowledged Malawi’s strength, describing them as a dangerous and highly ranked opponent, but expressed confidence in her team’s ability to rise to the challenge.
“We know Malawi is a strong team, but we’re determined to push for victory. We need to capitalize on turnovers and ensure we don’t waste scoring opportunities,” she added.
The Gems’ performance throughout the tournament has shown marked improvement, potentially influenced by their recent participation in the Celtic Cup in Glasgow, where they faced Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.
With lessons learned from their experiences and setbacks, the Gems are determined to leave it all on the court and finish the tournament on a high note.
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