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Brandon Moyo, Sports Reporter
ZIMBABWE Korfball booked their place in next year’s World Cup scheduled for China after winning at the fifth International Korfball Federation (IKF) All Africa Korfball Championships South that ended on Sunday in Lusaka, Zambia.

Zimbabwe won the final 14-12 against defending champions South Africa to book their place in the World Cup and become one of the best teams on the continent.

The Zimbabweans started their journey with a victory over the hosts. Zimbabwe won 14-13 against Zambia before going on to defeat South Africa in the decisive match.

The tournament had four countries but Malawi pulled out and a second team from Zimbabwe had to take their spot but played out of competition.

The team will be looking at making their first ever appearance at the global after missing out in the 2019 edition in South Africa due to financial constraints, the Zimbabwean side is hoping they can finally fulfil their World Cup dream next year.

They will join Morocco, who qualified after winning the IKF All-Africa Korfball Championship North-West last month in Abidjan, Cote de’Ivoire and the two African nations will compete with 22 other countries from the other continents in the global showpiece.

Zimbabwe Korfball team

Secretary general of Zimbabwe Korfball Federation, Ottilia Siphiwe Kurebwaseka said the qualification will put them on the world map as they intend to make history and fly the Zimbabwean flag up high.

“We are happy with this wonderful achievement. We are writing our own piece of history in the sporting field as well as raising the Zimbabwe flag high.

“Obviously rubbing shoulders with the world’s best will put us on the map. World Cups are the world’s most widely viewed sporting events, already this global qualification news is spreading like fire and some people are starting to be interested in korfball,” she said

With the ticket to China secured, the team is however hoping that a repeat of 2019 does not happen as they still have not found a sponsor to walk with them. They are however, keeping a positive mind as they appeal for funding.

“We have not found a sponsor yet. We fear that 2019 failure will repeat itself but we have to stay positive. We are appealing to the corporate sector to assist the team with resources so that we make our first appearance at the World Cup,” said Kurebwaseka.

The World Cup will be hosted in the city of Taipei.

Korfball is a ball sport, with resemblances to netball and basketball. The game is played by two teams of eight players with four female and same number of male athletes in each side.

– @brandon_malvin