THE Rainbow Amateur Netball League 2023 champions Glow Petroleum were the biggest winners at this year's awards ceremony after winning US$6 000, medals and a floating trophy for their exploits in the just ended season.
The netball league’s glamorous awards ceremony was held in Borrowdale on Saturday evening.Glow Petroleum retained the title for the third time running, with a dominant performance which saw them finishing the season unbeaten.
The awards ceremony preceded an Annual General Meeting by the league executive in which they planned for the upcoming 2024 season.Correctional Queens ended last season as runners-up and bagged US$4 000, a floating trophy and medals, while second runners up Black Mambas received US$3 000, a floating trophy and medals.
League debutants Haven Stars were voted the Most Disciplined team, receiving a US$300 reward.A number of individual awards were on offer with 23-year-old Panashe Taruwedzera from Sweet Valley walking away with US$350 for being the rookie of the year.Christine Kadandare from Glow Petroleum bagged the Golden Hand award and received US$350 and a shield for her efforts. Players’ player of the season award went to Babra Lodi from Glow Petroleum who received US$450 and a shield.
The duo of Chido Nenhunzi from Tenax and Panashe Taruwedzera of Sweet Valley were the Players of the Year and were awarded US$350 each. The season's new award category of People’s Choice went to Mambas' Priscilla Gatsi and she bagged US $350.
Glow Petroleum coach Pepertual Siyachitema retained the Coach of the Year award which came with a cool US$400.The national team select (those who partcipated in the World Cup and Africa Netball Cup) received US$100 each.Teams which finished from position five to 16 got US$400 each.
The league’s chairperson Melody Garikai praised teams and other stakeholders for a flawless season despite several headwinds.“This is a special award ceremony in the sense that we are celebrating the awards for the first time after our registration... we are now an official affiliate to Zimbabwe Netball Association [ZINA]. We are gathered here to celebrate the remarkable achievement of our netball players in the face of economic challenges and disruptive circumstances throughout the season,” Garikai said.
“You showed tenacity in the face of these hurdles and you continue to pursue your passion for netball. It is heartening to witness the unity of purpose that emerged during the season. We have become more resilient due to the hardships we continue to face and the commitment of everyone has been truly examplary.”She also congratulated Siyachitema on being part of the 2023 Netball World Cup analysts in Capetown, South Africa last year.
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After their successful league registration following a long struggle, Garikai said this year will see issues being handled differently with consultation to the mother body.
“Looking ahead, I’m filled with optimism and anticipation. We have weathered the storms of economic hardships and other disruptions and we have emerged stronger and more united than ever before. I think 2024 we are going to witness a different year as we will be going to the mother body ZINA, which was never possible in the past,” she added.
