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Sports Reporter
WITH the title race intensifying in the Zimbabwe Netball Association Super League, Harare City Queens coach Ropafadzo Mutsauki is being cautious in his approach to their remaining seven games. Harare City Queens share the same number of points with log leaders Correctional Services Queens but they are sitting on second position because of an inferior goal difference.

Both teams have 52 points after 27 matches and they have lost just one game each. Mutsauki said while they are in a good position to fight for the title, they still have some work to do before they can start talking about their chances.

“There is still some work to do, we are left with seven games. We have ZRP at home and away, Correctional Services will play ZRP as well and us. But ZRP is a very strong team. I think the position we are at is an advantage but the remaining games are tough, so we will only be able to talk after three games or so, we will have a picture of what to expect,” said Mutsauki. ZRP Team Queens are third with 48 points while on fourth position are Glow Petroleum with 46 points and they are all out to challenge for the title. Mutsauki added that they are hoping to surpass their performance from last year when they finished third.

“We are expecting to surpass what we did in our first year, if you get a better position in the first year, second year you expect an improvement,” said Mutsauki. Club chairperson Dorothy Mavolwane said they are eager to claim the title this year but she knows it’s not an easy task and they have been to ensure their side remain in shape.

“The position we are at its giving us motivation to work even harder as a team. Remember any team in the Super League would want to be number one, that has always been our wish and desire since we joined the league last year,” said Mavolwane. While it’s not going to be an easy task with stiff competition in the national league, Mavolwane said the fact they were able beat teams such as Glow Petroleum, regarded as one of the strong teams, was a motivation for them going into the remaining games.

“What has given us joy is we were able to beat Glow Petroleum, we were able to beat them in their backyard. It has given us more motivation,” said Mavolwane.The league was initially scheduled to conclude in the first week of November but the national association had to make some changes due the national teams’ commitments. The senior side were in Uganda for the African Championships while the Under-21s took part in the World Youth Cup in Botswana. Zina organising secretary, Alex Masimba said the curtain is now set to come down on the 2017 season on December 2.

“We ended up extending because teams could not finish their games because of the national teams’ commitments. We were at the Under-21 World Youth Cup and the African Championships and clubs had players in those teams,” Masimba said.

Weekend games results

ZDF Queens 39, Glow Petroleum Queens 44; Mutare City Queens 53, Support Unit Queens 26; ZRP Team Queens 92, Golden Valley 11; Black Rhinos 39, ZRP Team Queens 49; Glow Petroleum Queens 39, Ngezi Platinum Queens 33; Manyame Falcon Queens 54, Black Rhinos Queens 35; Correctional Services 142, Golden Valley 10; ZDF Queens 62; Waruwaru