YOUNG Gems coach Tapiwa Chirenda is happy with the positive strides the team is making as it gears up for the 2025 Youth Netball World Cup Africa qualifiers.
The World Cup qualifying tournament will run from March 18-23 in Pretoria, South Africa, with the teams that finish in the top four booking tickets to the World Cup finals set for Gibraltar in September next year.
With the qualifying tournament dates drawing closer, Chirenda has trimmed the squad down to 15 players who will travel to South Africa.
"So far things are progressing quite well. We have managed to trim down the squad to 15 travelling players. From what the players are displaying on the court, we are actually feeling bad that we had to let some go because we had talent in abundance. It was so difficult to pick the final squad, but we eventually had to make some tough decisions," Chirenda said.
"We selected a very talented squad such that picking the final 12 is going to be tougher because all these players are equally good and raring to go. I'm confident that the players will be able to do well at this competition. The team has the capacity to qualify based on what we have seen so far at training. All things being equal, we must secure a top four finish. The players we have picked are capable of producing results."
To fine tune their preparations, the Young Gems played a preparatory match against a men's select team over the weekend. They are expected to play another friendly game against Belvedere Teacher's College's women team today.
The team is expected to depart for South Africa on March 13 ahead of the start of the tournament.
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