Story by Anashe Murombedzi
The Zimbabwe Netball team, the Gems, are positive of winning against hosts Namibia when they clash in the Africa Nations Cup to be held in Swakopmund this Thursday.
Riding on their current performance at the on-going Africa Nations Cup, the Gems are confident of securing a spot in the semi-finals.
They registered a hard-fought 50-49 win over Uganda in their opening match, marking their first win over the She Cranes in a decade.
The Gems maintained their momentum, thrashing Eswatini 78-27 in their second match.
With their sights set on clinching the Cup, the Gems are determined to make a strong statement against Namibia.
“We are gearing up for Namibia. We feel we will do what it takes to make sure that we bring it home we are not worried about who plays what today but we will keep the girls remain motivated,” said Gems assistant coach, Simbarashe Mlambo.
The two teams are familiar foes, having clashed in previous editions of the Africa Nations Cup.
In the last edition, Namibia defeated Zimbabwe 45-36 in their opening match; although the Gems went on to win bronze.
However, Zimbabwe has had the upper hand in recent encounters, winning 50-49 over Namibia in the 2021 edition and 45-41 in the 2022 World Cup Qualifiers held in South Africa.
With their winning streak on the line, the Gems will be looking to bring their A-game against Namibia.
A win would not only secure their spot in the semi-finals but also boost their confidence ahead of the knockout stages.
