Inaugural Elite 8 netball tournament set for Bulawayo
…aims to transform Zimbabwe’s grassroots sport
Shelly Guni
Organisers of the Elite 8 Netball Tournament have said the preparations are at an advanced stage.
The three day tournament which starts tomorrow at White City Stadium seeks to unearth and nurture grassroots talent, providing young players with a platform to showcase their skills.
“This tournament is about giving a chance to players who have been overlooked for various reasons,” one of the organisers Sibonginkosi Dube told said.
“When I came back from the U21 World Cup Qualifiers, l realised there were some good netball players who qualified in the U21 category and who could perhaps have made a significant impact on the fortunes of the team but did not make for the trials because of one reason or the other. One of the reasons being that they never got the memo and that regions did not have a data base of their grassroots players,” she added.
The tournament will feature eight teams, selected based on geographic location, with a priority on academies.
The emphasis is on youth development rather than competition, a concept Coach Bongie is passionate about.
“Too often, tournaments are just about finding out who is the best. For us, it’s about development, giving players the exposure they need, and ensuring that netball becomes a career pathway.” Transparency and professionalism are central to the event.
Data capturers will collect player statistics, “We have data captures who have a mandate of capturing statistics that we will hand over to the association to use as they see fit.”
The tournament also includes mentorship programs for standout players.
“Mentorship is crucial in ensuring growth, both on and off the court,” Dube said.
Looking ahead, Dubr dreams of expanding the event into two divisions—U20 and seniors—to ensure continuity and prevent players from falling through the cracks.
“Hopefully the tournament can go to have preparatory games during the year building up to the tournament. I hope it will get so well sponsored that participants will be accommodated in respectable lodges or hotels for the duration of the tournament and be ferried around between the tournament venue and games village. In 5 years I wish the tournament to be so marketable to the extent it gets live coverage from mainstream media. The dream is to have two divisions but yet still maintain the Elite 8 playing format- U20 and senior division so we don’t lose players on the wayside and have continuity,” she said.
“We wish the sponsorship package to significantly grow from what we have this tournament. We wish to have packages for players that also go beyond the tournament, like medical aid, gym subscription, groceries,” she added.
Despite challenges, including red tape and limited sponsorship, Dube is optimistic. “The community’s excitement has been our fuel. Grassroots players are eager to take the court, and that keeps us motivated when we hit snags.”
Dube has however, extended an invitation to businesses to join hands in supporting the event. “If you want to change lives, get in touch with us. Sponsorship can make a huge difference,” she said.
For sponsorship inquiries, contact Elite 8 director Engineer B Mukoyi at 0773207631 or Coach Bongie at 0773329779.