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Ellina Mhlanga Senior Sports Reporter

NATIONAL Under-20 men’s handball team coach Cephas Mushati has said they are looking at improving their performance at the upcoming International Handball Federation Trophy Zone VI scheduled for next month.

Zimbabwe are the hosts and the competition venues are Chitungwiza Aquatic Complex and the City Sports Centre.

Nine countries — Malawi, Eswatini, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Botswana, Zambia and Zimbabwe — have confirmed their participation in the regional event to run from October 17 to 23.

It’s three weeks to go before the tournament catering for the Under-18 and Under-20 men begins.

Mushati said they will be out to improve from the previous performance and is aware of the task ahead taking on teams like Mozambique and Zambia.

“What I can say is our result must be better than last time when we finished fourth. We want to at least surpass that result that’s my main thrust. If we are going to be position one, it’s a bonus. What we want is leave a mark at the tournament.

“Mozambique is a challenge, even Zambia, they have been playing good handball. But we are going to put up a very good fight and comparing my team with the last team in terms of preparations, I think this one is a better team.

“We have had better preparations and time to train, so I think we are going to give a good fight,” said Mushati.

The national youth and junior teams had another periodic camp that saw them regrouping at Girls High School from Thursday to Sunday. The training sessions were, however, conducted at the Chitungwiza Aquatic Complex. The Under-20 technical team also took the opportunity to trim the squad as the competition draws closer.

“Honestly speaking at the moment, we just now need to polish up. Of course, we were trimming down our team, from the 30 players we had, we trimmed down to 18.