Veronica Gwaze
Sports Reporter
FIVE years later, the ship finally takes off.
The male netball league was launched in 2018 at Stodart Netball Complex with 11 teams having registered to take part.
Despite being able to break the gender barrier that for long existed within the netball fraternity, they failed to take off.
As a result, the teams found themselves largely playing social tournaments.
While other nations played internationally, some local players fell off the track.
Sadly, plenty of male netball players, over the years quit the sport while others were left to explore other options.
The Government announced a lockdown early in March 2020 which forced all sporting activities to break indefinitely, making things worse for the netball league.
And yet, finally, the boys get a chance to live their dreams.
Zimbabwe Netball Association hosted a senior men netball national team selection tournament at Glen View 1 High School and HMP Netball Grounds at the weekend.
The team is expected to join the senior ladies Netball team as they resume preparations for this year’s edition of the 2023 African Netball Championships.
The 13th edition of the Africa Netball Cup is scheduled for Botswana between November 26 and December 6 at University of Botswana.
And, for the first time, the regional contest will also see men’s teams from across the continent battling for silverware under the Africa Men’s Netball Cup.
“This time the boys will be taking part at the Africa Cup and we are excited, it will be their first official international assignment,” said Zimbabwe Netball Association president Letticia Chipandu.
“We cannot promise much because at the moment we are looking for sponsorship but as ZINA we are committed to having the boys in camp soon, traveling with and seeing them compete.”