By Tapiwa Chawagarira
ZIMBABWE’S senior women’s handball team got their inaugural International Handball Federation (IHF) Nations Trophy Africa Zone VI campaign off to a flying start after demolishing Lesotho 63-7 in their opening match in Lusaka, Zambia.
The emphatic 56-goal victory was a statement of intent from Zimbabwe, who dominated the contest from start to finish to immediately put themselves among the teams to watch in the inaugural senior women’s competition.
Zimbabwe were ruthless in attack while remaining equally effective defensively, restricting Lesotho to just seven goals as they raced to a comprehensive victory.
The tournament, which got underway in Lusaka today, is running from September 15 to 19 and features eight teams divided into two groups.
The IHF says the competition represents a new international platform for senior women’s handball, with the Zone VI winner earning a place at the African Women’s Championship.
Zimbabwe are in Group B together with Mozambique, Malawi and Lesotho, while Group A comprises hosts Zambia, South Africa, Namibia and Eswatini.
Mozambique also made a winning start in Group B, overcoming Malawi 39-32 in the other match played on the opening day.
The result means Zimbabwe and Mozambique have both collected maximum points from their opening matches, setting up an interesting battle for the top positions in the group.
For Zimbabwe, however, the immediate challenge will be to maintain the momentum generated by their massive opening victory as the competition moves into the second round of group matches.
The tournament is being staged at the Olympic Youth Development Centre in Lusaka, with the participating nations seeking to make history in the first senior women’s edition of the IHF Nations Trophy.
The introduction of the competition is part of the IHF’s efforts to provide developing handball nations with regular international competition and a pathway to higher-level continental tournaments.
