Zimpapers Logo

Leonard Ncube and Innocent Kurira, Sports Reporters
NATIONAL chief handball referee Beke Ncube believes that for the sport to regain its stability in the nation and region, it needs sponsorship and the introduction of junior leagues.

According to Ncube, lack of regular competitive action and sponsorship have become the Achilles’ heel of the growth and development of the sport in the country.

“The year 2017 was an improved year for handball, we had an exciting new crop of players who have displayed loads of talent. Our major challenge is the financial side of things. Handball has no sponsor at all, as it is we survive on a hand to mouth basis which is by all means not ideal.

“Another letdown, not only in Bulawayo but in Zimbabwe as a whole is the lack of serious competition. As soon as we have other provinces besides Bulawayo and Harare coming in as major players we are certain to have the sport making strides towards its development. Some of the teams fail to pay affiliation fees to the leagues which is a huge drawback,” he said.

He said Zimbabwe could be a powerhouse in Africa if only they could get funding.

“The fact is the country has enormous talent in handball. Zimbabwe has participated in the Zone VI championships and did extremely well under tight budgets, we could do even better with proper funding.

“Our assessment is that we have improved every time we play in the regional tournament and if we are to play such competitive games more regularly we would have quality handball in the country,” he said.

Meanwhile, in Matabeleland North, the Zimbabwe Handball Federation has elected a 12-member provincial interim board to revive the sport in the province.

Taurai Muberekwa, an out of schools handball coach based in Binga is the new chair deputised by Hwange based Chariot Dlamini (out of schools) while Sikhululiwe Mutami (in schools Victoria Falls) and Praise Ndlovu (in schools) from Victoria Falls and Sibusisiwe Shumba (out of schools) from Bubi are secretary, vice and treasurer respectively.

The others are Dorothy Dube, chairperson responsible for athletes, Blessings Manyabi (chairperson women), Mduduzi Madala (coaches), Charles Makonde (leagues) and Brain Mazwi who is chair for referees.

Mncedisi Nyathi and Thembinkosi Ncube complete the list as members, with each district represented.

This puts an end to a seven-year one-man-reign by Churchill Mabasa, who had moved to Bulawayo.

Muberekwa said the interim board’s first port of call is to instil a culture of transparency and revitalise the sport at district level.

“I understand the previous board wasn’t functional and ours has been given tasks and timelines to meet after which the decision making body will decide on our future.

“We want to push for transparency and form district boards in all seven districts in the province,’ he said.

Muberekwa said Matabeleland North has over the years been performing dismally at various national events because of maladministration and lack of grassroots programmes.

He said this will be rectified by taking the sport to schools and developing grassroots.

“We are in the process of engaging District Schools Inspectors (DSIs) because they supply us with athletes and manpower. We are targeting to take the opportunity and advertise the sport when they open schools and have their school heads’ meeting in January,” said Muberekwa.

He highlighted that as part of the new board’s activities, a general course in handball will be held to teach people in the province about the basics of handball.

This will be followed by level 1 and 2 coaching and officials’ training courses.

“We want to come up with a programme that we will fit into the national calendar. Our plan is to have a provincial league and we are considering either having the whole province meeting in Lupane or have teams closer to Bulawayo playing in Bulawayo and the rest meeting in Hwange.

“We want to consider a situation whereby everyone in Matabeleland North has a knowhow about the game. We had a dysfunctional set up where coaches had to finance athletes to go for tournaments and if you check some districts like Bubi and Tsholotsho have only one or two schools with handball and this contributes to dismal performance by the province at national tourneys such as National Youth Games,” said Muberekwa.

He said handball clubs in Binga, Hwange, Lupane and Victoria Falls also need revival. — @ncubeleon