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Ellina Mhlanga–Senior Sports Reporter 

GREENFUEL coach Sibonginkosi Dube has expressed satisfaction with her team’s performance after collecting maximum points in their Premier Netball League matches over the weekend. 

The major highlight was their victory over log leaders Ngezi Platinum Queens. 

GreenFuel put up a solid performance to win the match 40-22. 

They also beat Harare District 32-23 and Black Rhinos 37-12 in matches played in Beitbridge. 

“Our performance during the Beitbridge (bubble) was satisfactory. For once we managed to stick to our basics for the better part of each game we played. We hope in the coming games we will stick to our guns from first whistle to the last. 

“The juniors had a good run against Harare District and Rhinos, though we could have improved on our scoring rate.” 

Going into Saturday’s games both teams had not lost a game each and it was GreenFuel, who emerged the better team of the day. 

“Facing Ngezi, we knew that we had to go into that battle mentally and physically fit. I am glad to say that the connections between the players were there, the team cohesion was visible. The girls moved as a solid unit in defence and attack. 

“We were more clinical in our attack, more than we have achieved in the previous games. We put our foot on the accelerator from the first whistle and never looked back from there and that paid us dividends. 

“We appreciate that the hard work we put behind the scenes has put us in a winning streak. But we are careful not to be complacent. We never take the wins to the next game,” said Dube. 

Despite the loss Ngezi Platinum managed to pick some points when defeating Beitbridge Border Queens 49-17 in the other match. 

Ngezi Platinum coach Tapiwa Chirenda conceded they lost to a better side, when they played GreenFuel. 

“As Ngezi, we suffered our first defeat of the season to a better and quality side . . . Losing was a possibility as we went into the game but such is life where some circumstances are beyond your control. 

“For a team I have only been with for a few months. Losing a starting shooter (Merjury Marumirofa) to illnesses and the other starting shooter (Brenda Ncube), picking up an injury (in the) first few seconds of the game, practically sealed our fate for the day. 

“They (GreenFuel) came out firing on all cylinders and swept us.  We live to fight another day with the probability that for the first half of the season, we will go to the break still on top or second-placed depending on the GreenFuel, Platinum Queens game,” said Chirenda. 

Defending champions Platinum Queens also had a positive return to action when beating Rhinos 31-14 and ZDF Queens 31-28 in a close contest.

Results

Beitbridge Border Queens 20, Black Rhinos 32; Harare District 23, GreenFuel 32; Ngezi Platinum 49, Beitbridge Border Queens17; City Angels 19, Filchrist Boarding 26; Waterfalls 35, Redwing 24; Stormers 53, Marondera 16; City Angels 40, Filchrist ZJC 15; Lupane 0, Waterfalls 40; Redwing 27, Marondera 12; Redwing 40, Lupane 0, Stormers 31, Waterfalls 24; Stormers 40, Lupane 0; Platinum Queens 31, Black Rhinos 14; Redwing 18, Filchrist Boarding 25; Mvurwi 21, FilChrist ZJC 22; GreenFuel 40, Ngezi Platinum 22; Mvurwi 30, Marondera 22; City Angels 24, Waterfalls 30; Platinum Queens 31, ZDF Queens 28; GreenFuel 37, Black Rhinos 12; Beitbridge Border Queens 19, Harare District 38.