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Freeman Razemba in MBABANE, Swaziland
The Zimbabwe netball team yesterday won gold at the ninth edition of the SARPCCO Games. This is the first time the team has won gold since the inception of the Games in 1999. Zimbabwe triumphed after beating South Africa 66-23 in the final. The team was undefeated during their campaign. Team manager Georgina Njodzi was thrilled by their success.

“We managed to beat all the teams that we played against. There were six teams and now we are the holders of the gold medal,” said Njodzi.

“This is our first time to win gold since the inception of the Games and I would like to urge our players to continue training so that they remain fit.”

Zimbabwe beat Zambia 45-41, Malawi 44-38 and Swaziland 61-48.

Swaziland were the defending netball champions.

Head of the Zimbabwe delegation Mekia Tanyanyiwa said the team will win the SARPCCO Games for the fourth time.

“So far the SARPCCO Games championship is as good as in our bag because we are leading in terms of points.

“After winning the athletics trophy with quite a huge margin over Namibia, who are in second place, we now have a difference of about 100 points and it seems the trophy is ours,” he said.

He said all their teams performed well and most of them were in the finals except for the football side which lost to Malawi.

“In tennis we have six medals and that is 18 points. The darts team is yet to complete their Games and we are assured of no less than a silver medal and we are surely going to extend our points,” he said.

On Wednesday Team Zimbabwe won the athletics trophy after scooping 49 medals — 13 gold, 19 silver and 17 bronze, accumulating 139 points.