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Ellina Mhlanga Senior Sports Reporter

GEMS’ coach, Lloyd Makunde, says they need to up their game at the ongoing Africa Netball Cup after narrowly beating Namibia 50-49 in Windhoek yesterday. 

Zimbabwe had to dig deeper, with Namibia dominating for the greater part of the game, after taking the lead in the first quarter. 

They were leading 18-13 at the end of the first quarter and it was 29-25 at half-time. 

They managed to hold on to their lead, to the end of the third quarter, which ended 40-37. 

Zimbabwe knew they needed to press on to turn the tables in their favour but it was not that easy, with the two sides tied 44-44, at some point. 

Just like in their game against South Africa on Tuesday, the Gems’ biggest let-down was their failure to convert turnovers, and losing the ball when it mattered most.

Twice, in the second and third quarter, they levelled the score but they let Namibia find a way back again, on both occasions. 

“It shows us that today we didn’t play well. We need to make sure that all our turnovers are converted, just that,” said Makunde. 

The last quarter was evenly contested and it was a matter of who wanted it the most and Zimbabwe managed a one-goal victory margin. 

“I was not down, we had to keep encouraging them. I know they have got it in them to come from behind, I had faith,’’ said Makunde. 

“I just told them to make sure that our centre passes are made into goals and then force turnovers and convert them, that’s exactly what they did. 

“But, they let Namibia go up again, so we had to fight harder than we were supposed to do.” 

Gems captain, Felisitus Kwangwa, conceded Namibia were an improved side yesterday, unlike when they beat them 57-38 at the Pent Series, last week. 

“It means they have upped their game, so I think they were good today which is okay.

“They were good and we were good enough that’s why we won today,” Kwangwa said. 

Yesterday’s win was Zimbabwe’s first in two matches, after losing to defending champions South Africa, in the opening encounter on Tuesday. They still have tough assignments against Uganda and Malawi. 

Zimbabwe lost to both teams at the Pent Series and will be hoping for better results when they clash. 

Today they take on Malawi. 

There is also a tricky tie against Zambia and they know they have to take their game a gear up, to make the top three, at the continental tournament. The other matches will be against Kenya, Botswana and Tanzania.