Zim Impresses on Opening Day of IHF Trophy Zone VI...

Zim Impresses on Opening Day of IHF Trophy Zone VI Tournament

Patience Muchemwa – Senior Reporter

Zimbabwe’s Under-20 handball team kicked off their IHF Trophy Zone VI campaign in style with a dominant 59–12 victory over Eswatini on Day One of the tournament, which is currently being hosted in Zimbabwe.

The home team displayed exceptional coordination and attacking prowess from the start.

Team captain Stella Gwangwava praised her squad’s unity and performance, saying:
“The game was good; we played very well. I want to thank my teammates for the unity and cooperation. I also thank Coach Shemaiah for handling our game so well. We are now preparing to face Zambia and hoping for an even better outcome.”

Coach Shemaiah Bota also reflected on the team’s opening performance:
“It was a good start for Team Zimbabwe. The team came out strong, establishing an early lead with effective offensive plays and solid teamwork. We managed to extend the gap before halftime. However, after the break, our defense weakened slightly, and Eswatini tried to close the gap—but they couldn't.”

Looking ahead to the clash with Zambia, Coach Bota added:
“I have faith that we are going to win today’s game. However, we still have some loopholes to address in order to secure the result.”

Other Under-20 fixtures on the opening day saw Malawi thrash Lesotho 65–4, while Zambia narrowly edged South Africa 13–12. Namibia was awarded a 15–0 walkover win against Mozambique.

In the Under-18 category, Zambia beat Malawi 32–25, Eswatini triumphed over Lesotho 17–6, and South Africa outclassed Namibia 24–6.

The tournament continues today with several key matchups, including the highly anticipated U20 clash between Zimbabwe and Zambia.