The national netball team, Taifa Queens, today throw off its campaigns in the Africa Netball Championship in Botswana by facing their Zambian counterparts in the tournament that got underway on Sunday in Botswana.
Apart from facing Zambia, the Taifa Queens under the tutelage of head coach Edson Chitanda will also take on their hosts Botswana later in the evening in busy day for the Tanzanian ladies.
Tanzania, ranked 15th in the world according to the International Netball Federation (INF) released on May 17 this year, is expecting to face a stiff competition from both Zambia, which is ranked 18th and Botswana, who are behind them in the ranking.
Speaking to the ‘Daily News’ from the capital of Botswana, Gaborone, the Netball Association of Tanzania (CHANETA) Chairperson, Anna Kibira said the Tanzanian team is in high morale and ready to face their rivals.
Kibira said after today’s games, Taifa Queens will play a single game every day in the six-day event which involves six countries namely; Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Swaziland, Tanzania and hosts Botswana.
Taifa Queens squad captained by Sophia Komba, comprises players such as Lilian Sylidian, Irene Elius, Restituta Joseph, Veronica Tuki (State House), Faraha Maluki, Veronica Kubilu, Nasra Selemani and Penina Mayunga (Jeshi Stars.
Others are Betina Kazinja (Prisons Morogoro), Jawa Idd (Police Morogoro), Ndigwako William (Police Dar es Salaam), Fatuma Fussy (Transport), Joyce Boniface (Civil Service), Sharifa Mustapha (Immigration), Mainda Rodgers, Siwa Juma and Minza Nyande (Zanzibar).
Initially, this year’s event was scheduled to be held in Namibia but the country pulled out from hosting the event and paved way for Botswana to be granted the host.
This is the second time the host nation is changed. Late last year Zambia withdrew citing financial problems in relation to preparing for the World Netball Cup.
The Africa Netball Championship started in 2010 with the aim of improving and promoting netball in African countries and it is now an annual event.
Tanzania missed out on the 2013 championship held in Blantyre, Malawi which was won by South Africa.