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Ellina Mhlanga Sports Reporter
ZIMBABWE will this year field five junior handball teams in the Partille Cup to be held in Gothenburg, Sweden from July 1 to 5 after two teams dropped due to financial constraints.
The week-long annual event which caters for athletes between the age of 10 and 21 is the world’s largest tournament in terms of participants.
The teams to compete this year are the national boys and girls Under-16, Mashrhino boys Under-14 and girls Under-13 and Girls High School Under-16 team.

Zimbabwe had hoped to field seven sides, but some of the teams that had been expected to take part — Mufakose 4 High and the provincial select from Mashonaland East withdrew after they failed to raise funds.

Zimbabwe Handball Federation secretary general, Alphios Magiya said the participating teams are ready to represent the nation at the global event.
“At the moment I can say the teams are ready. The boys have been training so they are in shape. Mashrhino are also ready, they have confirmed as well as Girls High.

“Mufakose 4 girls team dropped and the provincial select from Mashonaland East because of financial challenges. We have been facilitating, but they have to find their own air tickets,” said Magiya.

Magiya said the tournament presents the young players and administrators with learning opportunities and exposure.
“This is an opportunity to market the Zimbabwe Handball Federation as a competitive brand in the world. It is also meant to stimulate the growth and development of handball back home.

“We have been participating so that we will be able to hold a mini-Partille tournament for the Southern Africa region in the future and to also expose talent so that development programmes we have become feeder systems to the national teams.

“Administratively we also gain in event management and marketing,” said Magiya.
Some of the teams such as Girls High and the national girls Under-16 are expected to leave today while the boys’ team leaves on Saturday.
Mashrhino will join the other teams on Sunday.