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Ellina Mhlanga Senior Sports Reporter

GEMS coach Lloyd Makunde says they are starting their rebuilding exercise now and the upcoming Pent Series and African Championships in Namibia present them with a perfect platform.

The team is expected to leave for Namibia this weekend, ahead of the Pent Series, which gets underway on Monday, and runs until Friday.

They will then compete in the African Championships from November 9 to 16.

“We have a 21-year-old, 22, 23-year-olds, it’s the process we want,’’ he said.

“We want to build a team for the future, so we have just started now, and it will shape up.

“I think by the time we play the World Cup qualifiers, we will have a good side, with young blood.

“Most of these kids played for the Zimbabwe juniors.

“But, making their debut with the seniors, we are just telling them that it’s the same netball they have been playing all along, it’s only that they are playing for the seniors.

“I don’t think it will be very difficult for them to play, they have already played for the nation though it was on a junior level.”

Some of the new players in camp are centre Nobukhosi Ndlovu, goal shooters Lynnette Tanhira and Nokuthula Mbano, as well as the pair of Beatrice Busu and Sinethemba Ncube, to bolster the defence.

“It has just created stiff competition and the senior players, the ones we were with at the World Cup, now know that these youngsters are in for the game.

“And, out there, they know that we are going to pick new blood, regardless of which club they are playing for, as long as they are good we are going to pick them.

“The message has gone out that things have changed,” said Makunde.

Team manager, Agness Chiroodza, said the final team travelling squad to Namibia will be announced tomorrow.

They now have 16 players in camp, after dropping Kudakwashe Muchongwe, who did not have a passport.

Squad

Felisitus Kwangwa (Surrey Storm), Claris Kwaramba (Platinum Queens), Sharon Bwanali (ZDF), Patricia Mauladi (ZDF), Queen Sigauke (Correctional Queens), Paidamoyo Tinoza (Glow Petroleum), Sinethemba Ncube (Goldreef Queens), Ursula Ndlovu (Glow Petroleum), Progress Moyo (Platinum Queens), Tafadzwa Matura (ZDF), Lynnette Tanhira (Platinum Queens), Nobukhosi Ndlovu (Goldreef), Priscilla Ndlovu (Goldreef), Nokuthula Mbano (Goldreef), Tatenda Dziva (Mixtures Queens), Beatrice Busu (ZDF).