By Tapiwa Chawagarira
HARARE — Zimbabwe’s Golden Flyers will miss the 2026 Africa Netball Championship in Kenya after financial challenges forced the national men’s senior team to withdraw from the continental competition.
This development is a major setback for Zimbabwean men’s netball, as the Golden Flyers are set to miss the championship for the first time since the inaugural Men’s Netball Africa Championship, held in Botswana in 2023.
Zimbabwe’s withdrawal also means the Golden Flyers will lose their opportunity to compete for an Africa Netball medal when the tournament takes place at the Kasarani Indoor Arena in Nairobi from September 19 to 26.
The Golden Flyers had been expected to represent Zimbabwe in a seven-nation men’s competition featuring defending champions South Africa, hosts Kenya, Uganda, Botswana, Malawi, and Eswatini.
South Africa, which won the inaugural championship in 2023, was expected to provide the benchmark for the participating teams, with Zimbabwe looking to challenge for continental honours after establishing itself as one of the top teams competing at the highest level of men’s netball in Africa.
However, financial constraints have now brought Zimbabwe’s preparations to an abrupt halt, with the team confirming that it will not travel to Kenya.
The withdrawal is a painful blow to a side that had been preparing to use the tournament as an important platform to gain international exposure and further develop Zimbabwe’s men’s netball programme.
The Golden Flyers’ absence will also be felt beyond the competition itself, as the Africa Netball Championship provides an opportunity for players, coaches, and officials to gain valuable experience against some of the continent’s leading netball nations.
The team has stressed that the withdrawal is not a reflection of a lack of talent or commitment, but rather a financial setback that has prevented Zimbabwe from fulfilling its international obligations.
Zimbabwe’s men’s team has been part of the growth of men’s netball on the continent since the sport’s inaugural African championship in 2023, making their absence from the 2026 edition particularly significant.
The Golden Flyers are now appealing for support from the corporate sector, organisations, and individuals to help rebuild the programme and ensure Zimbabwe returns to the international stage stronger.
The team is calling for greater investment and partnerships, hoping that adequate resources can be mobilised to support future international assignments.
For Zimbabwean men’s netball, the immediate disappointment of missing the Nairobi championship has therefore been accompanied by a renewed call for sustainable financial support.
The Golden Flyers’ withdrawal means Zimbabwe will not have a representative in the men’s competition when the continental championship gets underway next week, ending their participation in the tournament for the first time since its inception.
The challenge now is to ensure that financial difficulties do not derail the progress made by the Golden Flyers, and that Zimbabwe can return to continental competition with a stronger and more sustainable programme.
