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Ellina Mhlanga Sports Reporter
ZIMBABWE’S senior netball team will get down to business this Sunday as they regroup in Harare for the African Senior Championships in Lusaka, Zambia next month.

The championships, set for August 13 to 19, are acting as the 2019 World Cup qualifier and will see eight countries – Botswana, Namibia, Lesotho, Malawi, Uganda, South Africa, Zimbabwe and hosts Zambia – taking part.

Of the eight countries to meet in Zambia, South Africa and Malawi automatically qualified for the World Cup because of their rankings. And the other six countries will battle it out for the remaining two slots.  Sixteen countries from across the world will compete in next year’s global showpiece to be hosted by England. The teams are selected through both the International Netball Federation world rankings and qualifying tournaments.

South Africa are fifth while Malawi are ranked sixth on the INF world rankings.

With the stakes high at this year’s championships, Zimbabwe Netball Association president, Leticia Chipandu, said they were not leaving anything to chance.  “For now I can say the girls are coming into camp on the 15th of July, that’s Sunday. Letters have already been sent to the clubs asking management to release the players. ’They will be there until departure, up to the 9th of August.

“We want to make sure we train properly because this is not an easy assignment. It’s not going to be a stroll in the park. But I think the coaches will have enough time to prepare because they need to try several combinations to come up with the right combination,” said Chipandu.

Chipandu believes Zimbabwe, ranked 13th on the world rankings and the fourth best ranked African country behind South Africa, Malawi and Uganda (ranked seventh), stand a good chance of earning one of the tickets to the World Cup.

Lloyd Makunde will be in charge of the team, assisted by Ropafadzo Mutsauki and former national team coach Ledwin Dondo comes in as the manager.

Provisional Team: Pauline Jani, Perpetua Siyachitema, Cynthia Gamuchirayi, Rudo Karume, Ursula Ndlovu, Ndaiziveyi Madzikangava, Media Mafuta, Alice Banda, Patricia Mauladi, Edna Nyamhazha, Tafadzwa Mawango, Tafadzwa Matura, Claris Kwaramba, Mercy Mukwadi, Sharon Bwanali, Felistas Kwangwa, Christine Kadandara, Portia Miti.