Nedbank renews Gems sponsorship
Story by Tarirai Madhuyu
THE Zimbabwe netball team has received a huge boost after a local financial institution, Nedbank renewed its sponsorship deal with the Gems.
Nedbank has extended its partnership with the Zimbabwe Netball Association (ZINA) after unveiling a US$25 000 sponsorship package for the Under-21 and senior teams in Harare this Friday.
“As we celebrate the women’s month, this time around we celebrated it in style through sponsoring our junior netball team to participate in the World Cup qualifiers 2025 in South Africa in preparations for the World Cup in 2027 to be held in Gibraltar. We would also want to motivate all women out there to take part in sporting activities so as to avoid reliance on men. Sports improves health and wellness among citizens. Such activities all reduce things such as drug abuse and harlotry,” said Zimbabwe Netball President, Mrs Letitia Chipandu.
Head of Operations Nedbank Zimbabwe, Mrs Charity Mandaza said, “We are to support these Gems because they are the future of netball in Zimbabwe. As usual, Nedbank Zimbabwe continues supporting netball in the country and this time around we are going to support them up to the 2027 World Cup games.”
Gems skipper, Thandazile Ndlovu and vice-captain, Faith Mutero are grateful for the sponsorship which is expected to push the team to perform better.
“We would want to start by thanking Nedbank for the continued support, we are confident that we are going to win and bring better results back home. I would also want to encourage other young girls there to take time to participate in sporting activities,” said Ndlovu.
Mutero said, “We worked very much in camp so that we can match our fitness. At the moment everything is moving in the right direction. All teammates are meaningfully contributing to the benefit of the team. We are all dedicated to flying our country’s flag high.”
A sport code which has taken Zimbabwe to the World Cup, Netball has also become a tool for empowering the girl child.
