Netball team for camping

CHANETA acting secretary general, Rose Mkisi

National netball team expects to start camping early next month ahead of their friendly international against Zimbabwe at a date to be announced later by the netball association.

The Harare side, which has taken serious steps to build its national team a head of World netball championship qualifying games for Africa region, is keen on playing more international friendlies.

The Netball Association of Tanzania’s (CHANETA) acting secretary general, Rose Mkisi, said her association has not received invitation from Zimbabwe but the national side is ready for any challenge.

She said once approached, CHANETA will nod to the invitation with broad hands as it will be useful to strengthen the home side team as it gears up for the qualifiers.

Mkisi said it’s good to start preparing now as many African teams had begun their preparations for the qualifiers long time ago.

Reports reaching The Guardian from Zimbabwe have it that the country’s national team plots for a possible friendly matches.

Leticia Chipandu, the president of Zimbabwe Netball Association, says her body is giving top priority to the development of junior and senior leagues in an effort to improve playing standard.

Zimbabwe bids to take one of the two African qualifying slots for the 2011 World Championships.

Meanwhile, South Africa are not far from the qualifier strategies as they have travelled to New Zealand for training sessions.

They expect to play against Samoa with another objective of improving their World rankings.

The Tanzania netball team, which returned from a training stint at the England Institute of Sports in Sheffield last month, has remained idle.

In a related development, Mkisi said CHANETA will soon start youth netball tournament.

The objective of the tournament is to scout players to form a team for the 2013 World Youth Championships.