The Zimbabwe women netball team are set to take part in the South Africa based netball franchise, the Telkom Netball League when the tournament later this month.
Zimbabwe Netball Association (ZINA) is understood to have requested for the Gems to be part of Africa’s largest franchise Netball competition which officially gets under way on April 26 with the Sun City Superbowl in the North West Province confirmed as the officially hosts of this year’s edition.
And Netball South Africa (NSA) had no problem including Zimbabwe in the competition.
The Gems along with the SPAR Baby Proteas which is South Africa’s U-21 side currently preparing for the Netball World Youth Cup campaign in Gibraltar later this year, are the new additions to the Telkom Netball League.
NSA president, Cecilia Molokwane confirmed Zimbabwe’s participation at the launch of the Telkom Sponsored event on Tuesday.
“The good thing is Zimbabwe is coming. Zimbabwe will be playing TNL netball this year that is the Zimbabwe netball team so that is how we are growing TNL, that’s how we are spreading our wings,” Molokwane said.
“Zimbabwe asked us, we did not invite them they asked us and said this is a competition that one can participate in, we have a sponsor now and they want to be part of us so can we come? You know us as South Africans we have the hospitality in accepting people it’s what we love doing and growing the sport together we did that,” she added.
A total of 17 teams are set to take part in the competition which is in its 11th year.
NSA will soon confirm fixtures, ticketing details as well as broadcast schedules in due course.
However, just like in previous editions, the competition will be held over three action packed Power Weeks.
The first edition officially gets under way between April 26 – May 4 at the Sun City Superbowl with the Second Power Week set for June 13 – 17 and the last edition which determine who will be crowned champions is scheduled for July 14 – 20.
