Clive Thabo Dube
Sports Reporter
THE Zimbabwe Netball Association (ZINA) Bulawayo province has bemoaned the lack of growth of netball in the city.
In an interview with Zim GBC News, ZINA Bulawayo province Chairperson Chrispen Ndlovu said apart from sponsorship challenges, netball in Bulawayo like any other sport in the city is failing to grow due to the obstacle of not having adequate grassroots programs.
“There’s need to have Zones, districts and provincial structures formed where netball development programs will be carried out. At the moment there are just two competitive leagues, Division One and the Super League only. There are no under 14, 17 and 19 formats.” He said.
He added that, “A strategic plan to equip schools, colleges with trained personnel within a period of five years is what Bulawayo needs to improve netball in the city.”
According to Ndlovu, Netball is not consistently played and for the sport to have a continuous crop of players, he said his association is on course to rope in sponsors who will encourage the participation of more people in this sport code. The sport has been struggling to find sponsors and this has further stifled the development of netball.
“This year, our plan is to revive netball after a long covid-19 break and look for sponsors to support the girl child in the sport of netball. The girl child will therefore be able to participate without any hurdles and be brought into the limelight. The plan is therefore to harness sponsors into sponsoring netball academies in Bulawayo so that the products produced here will feed the Provincial and National teams respectively.” Ndlovu told Zim GBC News
He also said the Bulawayo netball chapter will prioritize the training of the officials and also have in place a training matrix program of the girl child.
The training of match officials is of paramount significance to the growth of any sport and its performance.
Meanwhile, the league roadmap is yet to be announced.