All set for Rainbow Netball League kick-off

By Precious Mudenge | Feb. 27, 2025 | 3 Min read

Defending champions Correctional Queens

THE lines have been drawn and the time has been set.

Netball is back with a bang, better and more exciting tomorrow in the Rainbow Amateur Netball League, where Green Fuel hosts Santa Queens and Tenax Queens.

The excitement and the expectations are high.

Everyone is talking about the 2pm game of Green Fuel versus Santa Queens. What a better way of opening the 2025 season with such a big game.

Green Fuel, in their maiden appearance in RANL, will want to make their presence felt, while Santa would want to continue riding high from where they left off last season.

Anyone who writes off Tenax Queens from this equation will be doing it at their own peril.

Tenax finished fourth in the 2024 season.

Green Fuel coach Sibonginkosi Dube said as a team that was not tested much last season, they will approach each game with caution.

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“This bubble is a battle for Manicaland. We are on the back foot as Tenax and Santa are seasoned campaigners in the RANL league and yet we are navigating through uncharted territory,” she said.

“That being said, we are not going to back down from the fight of claiming supremacy in Manicaland.

“We are going to put a spirited performance with a signature flair in attack and a stranglehold in defence.”

Tenax Queens coach Blessing Chinyowa said they were expecting high quality, tight and challenging games.

“We respect both our opponents, but we will fight. I know these teams have good national team players and former national coaches as well as players,” Chinyowa said.

“And the best part is that we are underdogs, according to a section of the media and of the netball fans.

“I know my girls are seasoned and experienced, and we are going to put up a good fight as a team. Only God knows our final destination, and in God, we believe and trust.”

Champions Correctional Queens start the journey of defending their title by visiting Shamva Gold Mine, the home of Filchrist, the National Association of Secondary School Heads Under-17 and Under-20 defending champions.

Filchrist produced the 2024 Rookie of the Year 14-year-old Ashley James, with the school also known for posting great academic results for these girls.

The defending champions will show no mercy as they have also acquired the services of national team players Thandazile Ndhlovu and Faith Mutero, both from Green Fuel.

These two players are coming to a star-studded team, which has the services of national team captain Felistus Kwangwa and Tafadzwa Mawango, who won the 2024 Golden Hand.

The only competition fans can witness at Shamva will be between the hosts Filchrist and Chibwe.

RANL comes to Gweru, the city where it all began or where the league was birthed. It was at The Village, a stone’s throw away from the city centre, when RANL came to being.

As the 2025 season opens, ZRP Vixens have opened up their city to host an all uniformed bubble.

The Elson “WeZhira” Makono-coached ZRP Vixens play hosts to Khami and ZRP Masvingo.

On paper, Khami are supposed to walk away with all the points from the Gweru ZRP Main Camp Bubble, but on the ground, fans are yet to see what the hosts have prepared, and also not forgetting ZRP Masvingo, the only representative of Masvingo in the league.

Fixtures for 1 March, 2025

Chisumbanje Bubble

Green Fuel vs Tenax (10am)

Tenax vs Santa (12 noon)

Green Fuel vs Santa (2pm)

Shamva Gold Mine Bubble

Filchrist vs Correctional (10am)

Correctional vs Chibwe (12 noon)

Filchrist vs Chibwe (2pm)

Ross Camp Byo Bubble

ZRP Byo vs Mthala (10am)

Mthala vs Hyda (12 noon)