ZIMBABWE Netball Association (Zina) has paid tribute to the association's partners and stakeholders, who have fought in their corner making much of their dreams during the course of this year a reality.
Chief among the stakeholders is the government which, according to Zina president Letitia Chipandu, has been a shoulder to lean on and available whenever they called for support.
ZINA managed to send the senior women's netball team to South Africa for the Vitality Netball World Cup in August. The Nedbank-sponsored Gems finished in 13th place and recently returned from the Africa Netball Championships in Gaborone, Botswana with a bronze medal.
The association also had their men's team, the Golden Gems participating at the inaugural Men's Netball Africa Championships in Botswana where they brought home a silver medal.
"I want to sincerely thank our government for the support that they always give to the Gems. I know the government has got lots of other national associations with teams that need support but we have always got support from our ministry and we always go back to them when we have these assignments to ask for financial assistance and they have always obliged," Chipandu said.
"We also want to thank Nedbank for coming onboard to sponsor the Gems as far back as the World Cup. Clothing and kitting was done by Nedbank as well as the airfares, hotel accommodation and meals. Nedbank also provided us with transport, accommodation, meals and kitting for the team for our Africa Championships.
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"I’m happy to say our partnership is continuing and we will give them no reason to regret partnering with the Gems. We are grateful to SPAR for being there for us throughout the years. This is our second year with them. They provide us with food for camping and paying for the venues.
"We also want to thank the Zimbabwe Olympic Committee for sponsoring our first camp at the beginning of the year when we were preparing to go to the World Cup and a host of other sponsors and ask them to keep supporting the Gems so that the big dream will be fulfilled," she said.
Apart from sponsoring the Gems, Nedbank is also sponsoring the PNL League where most of the players in the national team are coming from.
The Gems are set to return to camp soon to prepare for the Proteas Series Invitational Tournament scheduled for early next year.