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Sikhumbuzo Moyo, Senior Sports Reporter
HIGHLANDERS Netball Team was officially launched yesterday amid pomp and  fanfare at the clubhouse besides losing the final match against a strong and seasoned ZRP Bulawayo.

The netball returnees, who will be playing in the Bulawayo Netball League, were beaten 16-24 by the police side who were propelled by goal shooter Thoko Chifamba in a match that attracted a sizeable crowd among them Highlanders chief executive officer Ndumiso Gumede, their patron Mildred Sandi and Dailes Bingadadi who stood in for the Ministry of Sport and Recreation.

Highlanders chairman Peter Dube, his vice Mordern Ngwenya and Sports and Recreation Commission’s Bulawayo coordinator Sam Dzvimbu also graced the opening session of the launch before rushing out to attend to some other urgent business.

Five teams took part, with Highlanders automatically going through to the final while the other four teams, Delta Sparrows, ZRP Bulawayo, Free Stars and Elephant Queens played in a round robin format.

The first game saw Delta Sparrows going down 13-21 to the police outfit while in the second match, young Free Stars girls were too good for the army side, Elephant Queens, beating them 16-12.

ZRP Bulawayo scored 21 points against Elephant Queens’ 17 in game number four while Free Stars beat Sparrows 25-15. The last game between Free Stars and ZRP Bulawayo ended in a 20-20 stalemate but ZRP Bulawayo went through to the final by virtue of having scored a total of 62 points, in all their matches while Free Stars were one less.

“Despite the loss we are happy that Highlanders netball team is back, I think we are going to give those seasoned clubs a good run for their money, including ZRP Bulawayo which beat us in the final,” said team chairperson Sekani Dube who is also the Zimbabwe Netball Association secretary general.