Zimpapers Logo

Ellina Mhlanga Senior Sports Reporter

ZIMBABWE Handball Federation technical director, Farai Gwisai, has underscored the importance of resuming their regional leagues.

They re seeking to establish a national league by next year.

ZHF have applied to the Sports and Recreation Commission for the Central and Southern Regions to resume.

They are also hoping to get clearance to host an Open Season tournament.

Gwisai said the leagues will run up to early next year and top four teams from each of the four regions — Southern, Central, Northern and Southern — will make up the national league.

“From those leagues, we are going to select top four teams, to play in the national league.

“We are hoping the leagues will run into next year, January or February, then we select the teams, to make up the national league.

“We tried the national league before but stopped because of Covid.

“The federation sent a request for clearance for the two regional leagues, Central Region and Southern Region.

“For now, those are the two regions that are ready to start. The application was also for clearance for the Open Season tournament,’’ said Gwisai.

Northern and Eastern Regions are still compiling their clubs’ lists and working on the Covid-19 protocols.

Gwisai said this will give national teams’ coaches a platform to select their squads, for next year’s assignments, starting with the African Handball Cup of Nations, in Morocco, in January.

“At the moment, we have quite a number of national assignments that we need to prepare for,’’ he said.

“So, it would be a very good platform for players to get into shape, and getting ready for national teams’ competitions.

“For instance, we have got the Zone VI Africa Challenge Trophy, for men and women, which is also a qualifier for Junior Championships.

“And, we also have the Africa Cup of Nations getting closer and All-Africa Games (African Games) qualifiers are also close.

“So, we need to make sure that they get into shape, and we will be able to select our national teams, because we were having challenges in selecting national teams, due to lack of participation in the leagues.”

The national association are expected to unveil the kits for the national teams, next week, after getting a donation from a Swiss company.

Speaking to The Herald recently, ZHF secretary-general, Edison Chirowodza, said the donation was facilitated by the Embassy of Switzerland, in Zimbabwe.

“It includes training kits, match kits, playing shoes, back packs and balls. In terms of monetary value, it’s worthy over US$15 000.

“It was a donation through a Swiss company, for now, they want to remain anonymous.

“It was facilitated through the Swiss Embassy in Zimbabwe.

“This is an important gesture that the Embassy have extended to us. It has actually taken handball, to another level.

“They have not only supported us in terms of kits, they have also supported us financially, and we appreciate because it goes a long way into the development of handball,” Chirowodza said.