UZ Wildcats Ladies Handball Club Shine in International Friendlies Against Zambia

The UZ Wildcats Ladies Handball Club proudly represented Zimbabwe in Lusaka after being invited by the Zimbabwe Handball Federation for two international friendly matches against Zambia’s Under-18 and Under-20 women’s national teams. The games, held on August 23 and 24, formed part of Zambia’s preparations for the upcoming Zone 6 Championships in Algeria later this year.

The Wildcats departed Harare on August 22 and began their tour with a morning training session before facing Zambia’s U-18 team later that day. The match delivered intense, end-to-end action, ending in a 22-22 draw. Wildcats team manager Valentine Masaiti praised the team’s effort, saying, “It was a thrilling match, very fast and quite entertaining. The ladies showed real character and matched Zambia stride for stride. It was the perfect way to start the tour.”

On August 24, the Wildcats took on Zambia’s U-20 national team, regarded as one of the strongest sides in Southern Africa. Zimbabwe battled bravely but narrowly lost 24-21. Despite the defeat, Wersline Zvomuya stood out with exceptional performances throughout the tour, earning the Most Valuable Player award. Zvomuya said, “To be recognised at this level is such an honour. But this was not just about me — as a team we played our hearts out and proved that Zimbabwean handball can compete with the very best in the region.”

The Wildcats’ squad included players from Brymaton, Panthers, and City Stars, highlighting the collaborative spirit within Zimbabwean handball. Masaiti noted the broader benefits of the tour: “We took a lot of positives from these matches. Experiences like this help grow our league and expose our ladies to higher levels of competition. The Zambian hosts were fantastic, and we truly hope more tours like this are organised in the future.”

The Wildcats’ spirited performances and Zvomuya’s MVP recognition provided invaluable international exposure and reinforced Zimbabwe’s growing presence in regional handball. The tour underscored the potential of Zimbabwean women’s handball to compete at higher levels and set a strong foundation for future international engagements.