Tough Day for Zim at IHF Trophy Zone 6 Tournament

Patience Muchemwa- Senior Reporter

Zimbabwe’s under-18 and under-20 girls’ handball teams endured a difficult second day at the ongoing IHF Trophy Zone 6 tournament, falling to Zambia in matches that highlighted a significant experience gap between the two nations.

In the under-18 clash, Zimbabwe showed grit but eventually succumbed to a 24–18 defeat. Despite a spirited effort, the girls were outclassed by a more composed and tactically disciplined Zambian side.

The under-20 encounter followed a similar pattern, with Zimbabwe losing 41–28. The team had promising spells, but Zambia’s cohesion and superior match fitness proved decisive.

A local supporter, who preferred to remain anonymous, expressed concern over Zimbabwe's preparation. “The coaches are doing their best, but they haven’t had enough time to properly train the players. Most of our girls are still in high school, while Zambia fields club-level players. That makes a huge difference,” he said.

“If we don’t improve quickly, we could struggle against Malawi, who are looking very strong.”

Elsewhere in the under-18 category, South Africa overwhelmed Eswatini 36–7, while Lesotho secured a 12–3 victory over Namibia. In the under-20 division, Malawi edged Mozambique 24–19, Namibia routed Lesotho 33–8, and South Africa thrashed Eswatini 37–8.

The tournament continues, with Zimbabwe hoping to bounce back in the upcoming fixtures.