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Ellina Mhlanga Sports Reporter
SENIOR national netball team coach Lloyd Makunde is satisfied with the way their preparations for the upcoming Pent Series in Namibia are shaping up after they trooped into camp on Sunday in Harare.

The five-nation tournament is running from June 8 to 13 in Windhoek with the same participants from last year — Botswana, Swaziland, Zambia, Zimbabwe and the hosts Namibia — participating.

Zimbabwe’s Gems are the reigning champions following their victory in the previous year when they underlined their status as one of the fast-rising netball sides on the continent.

The Gems have, of late, been one of the most successful Zimbabwean national teams on the international stage and they are currently ranked as the 15th best side in the world.

Makunde has been working with the team at Stodart Netball Complex in Mbare in the last few days.

“We have got 17 players who got into camp on Sunday and we started training on Monday.

“Actually we are trying to introduce another type of play (which is) different from the one we were using all along.

“We are trying to adjust to international type of play, which is high mobility. We want to have a fast game than the one we have played previously, which is slower, a typical African game.

“It’s still a bit difficult but we are getting there. The girls are responding very well.

“With the slower game it makes it easier for our opponents to mark us one-on-one than when we are playing a fast game,” said Makunde.

He retained some of the players that carried the country’s flag high last year but also added some new faces in defence as he roped in Cynthia Gamuchirai, Alice Banda and Rudo Karume.

“We retained some players but we actually introduced more new blood in the team, some who have never played at international level.

“The likes of Cynthia, Alice and Tilda Marisa as well as Rudo Karume, who last played some four years ago.

“We want to come out with the best defenders so we have broadened up our base,” said Makunde.

However, he admits they have to be at their best going into this year’s competition with Zambia also on the rise.

“We are expecting a very tough challenge because everyone wants to be a winner. We are probably the highest ranked team in the tournament and if any team beat us, they get to accumulate more points.

“So we are trying to gear up our preparations to bring gold, to retain the title,” said Makunde.

Goal-shooter Mercy Mukwadi, who was part of the team that won the title last year, said she is looking forward to another dance with some of the region’s best players.

“We are preparing very well and we are hopeful we are going to defend our gold. We are working on what we lacked last time especially on the defence.

“We have some new players but we know each other at club level so it hasn’t been that difficult to adjust.

Seasoned campaigner and goal-shooter Pauline Jani of police side Mambas is also part of the provisional squad which will be trimmed down to 12 players and they are expected to leave for Namibia early next week.

Provisional Squad

Media Mafuta, Patricia Mauladi (ZDF), Mercy Mukwadi, Rudo Karume, Alice Banda, Ursula Ndhlovu (City of Harare) Portia Miti, Tafadzwa Matura (Manyame Queens), Edina Nyamhazha, Kudakwashe Muchongwe, Ndaizivei Madzikangava (Correctional Queens), Pauline Jani, Cynthia Gamuchirai, Omega Muwandi (Mambas), Perpetua Siyachitema, Sanele Ncube, Tilda Marisa (Glow Petroleum).