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Ricky Zililo, Senior Sports Reporter
TWENTY-FOUR clubs will compete at the launch of the newly formed Premier Netball League (PNL) tournament at White City Stadium in Bulawayo tomorrow.

The competing teams were previously affiliated to the Rainbow Amateur Netball League (RANL) and the Super League.

The 24 teams have been grouped into four pools, and winners of each group will proceed to the semi-finals.

Group A is made up of Gold Reef, Harare City, Bulawayo Stars, University of Zimbabwe, Masvingo City Stars and ZRP.

Correctional, Mutare, Blue Angels Queens, Waterfalls, Lupane and Gweru Queens are in Group B, while Group C is made up of Ngezi, Green Fuel, Bulawayo Queens, BTTC, Mupandawana and Mashonaland Central.

The last group has netball powerhouse Black Rhinos, Platinum, Harare District, CUT, Masvingo Pirates and Blanket Mine.

Yeukai Muchenu, PNL public relations and media officer, said the stage is set and they were ready to launch the new league.

“Everyone is excited as this is a new dawn for the sport of netball, and we are expecting competitive action,” said Muchenu.

The competition will run under strict Covid-19 protocols, with participants cleared to take to the courts after production of Covid-19 test results conducted within 48 hours.

Muchenu could not be drawn into revealing sponsorship details of the launch tournament, saying “those who excel will be recognised accordingly”.

The PNL is expected to release its fixtures for the entire season after the launch tournament. – @ZililoR