Zimbabwe Shines at Africa Netball Cup with Gems Bronze and Golden Flyers Silver

Zimbabwe’s senior netball teams delivered a statement performance at the Africa Netball Cup, confirming the nation’s growing strength on the continental stage. The Gems secured a historic bronze medal in the women’s competition, while the Golden Flyers claimed silver in the men’s tournament.

The Gems produced one of their most significant results in recent years by defeating hosts Malawi by four goals to take third place. The victory was notable not only for the margin but for the context. Malawi have long dominated this rivalry, especially on home soil, making the result a rare and symbolic breakthrough for Zimbabwean netball.

Oliver Mhuriro described the win as a turning point. He noted that Zimbabwe had often been viewed as a walkover by Malawi in the past. This performance, he said, showed a clear shift in competitiveness and belief within the Gems squad.

The match itself was intense from start to finish. Both teams traded momentum, but the Gems showed composure and discipline in the final stages. Their ability to control possession and convert crucial chances allowed them to edge ahead and close out the game. Back home, the result was met with widespread excitement among netball followers who have watched the team steadily improve.

The Zimbabwe Netball Association praised both the collective effort and individual excellence within the squad. Special recognition went to Thandazile Ndhlovu, who earned another Player of the Match award for her standout performance. The association highlighted the tight nature of the contest and the mental strength shown by the team under pressure.

Zimbabwe’s success was not limited to the women’s competition. The men’s national team, the Golden Flyers, also impressed by reaching the final and finishing with a silver medal. Their run through the tournament demonstrated tactical growth, physical intensity and increasing depth in men’s netball, a discipline that continues to expand across Africa.

The Zimbabwe Netball Association congratulated the Golden Flyers on their achievement, describing the silver medal as a result earned with pride. The finish reinforced the team’s status as serious contenders in African men’s netball.

Overall, the Africa Netball Cup proved to be a milestone tournament for Zimbabwe. Medals in both the women’s and men’s competitions underline the country’s rising competitiveness and investment in the sport. With performances like these, Zimbabwean netball is no longer participating to make up numbers. It is competing to win.