Sports Reporter
THE Zimbabwe senior men national handball team completed a three-day camp in Chitungwiza Wednesday as part of the build-up to the qualifying events for the African Games scheduled for next year.
The team had several training sessions at Chitungwiza Aquatic Complex under the guidance of Innocent Kanosvova and Farai Mukundu.
The African Games, initially scheduled for this year, were moved to March 2024.
For handball, the qualifying events to the Games which will be held at zonal level are expected to take place later this year with one team for each zone qualifying for the continental Games.
Zimbabwe Handball Federation secretary-general Edson Chirowodza said although the actual dates for the qualifying competitions are yet to be announced, they have already kick-started their preparations.
They are looking at fielding both men and women senior teams for the qualifiers.
“The team is getting into camp as a result of the preparations for the African Games qualifiers which are yet to be advised since the actual African Games are on next year.
“We will have more periodic camps and friendly matches with other nations as a team building process in order for us to be able to qualify. We intend to have a friendly match with Zambia National team in due course.”
“We will field both man and women teams after the man’s camp we will organise a camp for ladies in due course,” said Chirowodza.
Most of the players making up the 20-member provisional squad were part of the Under-21 side that was put together a few years back as part of a long-term national team development strategy under the vision 2024.
However, the just ended camp was attended by 16 players.
ZHF roped in Swiss coach Rolf Haussener to assist with the programme and is still working with the team in conjunction with the local coaches.
“The relationship with coach Rolf is that the team he was coaching which started as juniors is now our senior man as the majority of the players are now seniors.
“The team remains part of our long term plan which is the vision 2024 with a target of us qualifying for African Games. We have had a lot of challenges which led to a standstill for some time but now we have resumed preparations for the African Games,” said Chirowodza.
The African Games will serve as an Olympic qualifier for some sport codes such as athletics, badminton, cycling, swimming, table tennis, tennis, triathlon and wrestling.