Pakistan company donates sports gear to ZHF

Gweru (New Ziana) – A Pakistani company, ISHAN has donated sports equipment worth US$10 000 to the Zimbabwe Handball Federation (ZHF) to assist develop the sport and help the country to qualify for the All Africa Games set for 2024.

The continental games, which were scheduled to be held this year, were moved to next year, but will start with qualifying events at zonal level later this year.

The new training kits and equipment donated by ISHAN were handed over during the signing ceremony of a three-year partnership agreement between ZHF and IHSAN.

Speaking at the function, Murad Baseer, the Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, said the donation will go a long way in developing handball in Zimbabwe.

He said the partnership agreement will act as an enticement to the Zimbabwe national team’s campaign during the forthcoming All Africa Games to be staged in Ghana in 2024.

“My Embassy responded to the request for support to Zimbabwe Handball Federation in bringing their goods from ISHAN to Zimbabwe and we will have a close working relation with the Federation in their bid to qualify for the All Africa Games,” he said.

“For me personally, it is an absolute delight when a Pakistani Company such as ISHAN is joining hands with Zimbabwe handball to increase sport development and participation. I therefore call upon other stakeholders to do the same and support sport in Zimbabwe.”

“The Zimbabwe National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1) prescribes that “for Zimbabwean sport to achieve its goals of an active and winning nation, it is necessary to have a range of strategic enablers in place”.

“Making available enablers such as the training equipment is one of the key ingredients for a conducive environment for Zimbabwean sport to flourish in terms of participation and talent identification,” said Baseer.

The diplomat said he believes sport has the power to unite and bring people together.

He hoped that the sponsorship of kits and equipment from ISHAN will provide another opportunity for young people in Zimbabwe, not only to play sport but to build successful sporting careers.

“Sport is a good vehicle for promoting social inclusion and cooperation. By constituting a women’s team, it shows that gender equality in sport can break down the harmful stereotypes that continue to make women less likely to take up sporting activities.

“It also means promoting women’s advancement as professional athletes and leaders in the sport sector,” said Baseer.

New Ziana