Kimberly
Kusauka
MASVINGO- Some
eight teams participated in the Garikai Netball Tournament held at Chitima
fruit and vegetables market last Saturday, with Highfliers beating previous
champions ZRP Masvingo in the finals to lift the worker’s day trophy.
The teams played in two groups, group A consisted of
Derpotivo, Super Angels, Nemamwa Rural District Council (RDC) and Rujeko Mighty
Pirates. In group B there was Rockstars, Highfliers, ZRP Masvingo and Manyama
Queens.
Rujeko Mighty Pirates and Deportivo came out top of Group A
while Highfliers and ZRP Masvingo dominated Group B to reach the semifinals.
In the semi-finals, Highfliers played against Rujeko Mighty
Pirates whom they defeated and in the other semifinal ZRP Masvingo proved to be
too good for Deportivo to make a date with Highfliers in the grand finale.
Highfliers walloped the 2019 winners ZRP Masvingo 17-6 in
the final to be declared the 2021 champions.
Nemamwa and Super Angels played dismally as they failed to
register any win in all games they played.
Highfliers representing manager, Ranee Tonono said she was very
excited with her team’s well-polished performance throughout the tournament
although they didn’t have a coach on their bench.
“I am excited that our team managed to defeat the 2020 champions
despite the fact that we did not have a coach. I can say that our team played
classical netball,” said Tonono.
Some of the notable players were Margaret Farainashe who was
scoring for fun from the group stages and was named best player.
The 29-year-old Farainashe, who started playing netball when
she was in form two, said she dreams of representing her country before she
calls it a day.
“Since I started playing netball, I never made it to the
nationals but if given an opportunity I would like to play for the national
team and make my country proud,” said Farainashe.
Another outstanding player of the day was 16-year-old
Mildreth Wala of Rujeko Mighty Pirates also revealed that she would want to
play more competitive leagues other than social netball.
“I started playing netball when l was eight years old and
all I hope for is to down the national team colours. I have dreams of playing
more competitive netball at bigger events so that I can showcase my talent and
I am confident that I will surely get there,” said Wala.
Tournament chairperson, Rocky Kamuzonda said he was happy
that people had united to organise a community netball tournament which brought
them together.
The tourney was held under strict health watch from health
workers who were enforcing Covid-19 regulations.
The tourney is an annual event where netball social league
players from across Masvingo tussle for the May Day trophy.
