PLATINUM Queens won the first pre-season tournament of the newly established Premier Netball League (PNL), held at White Stadium in Bulawayo yesterday.
The Midlanders beat Goldreef 26-16 in the final of the 18-team tournament to be crowned inaugural champions.
The new league has attracted seasoned campaigners in the mould of Black Rhinos, Harare City, Ngezi Platinum, ZDF Queens, among other big-name sides.
The match of the tournament was the semifinal pitting Platinum Queens against ZDF. It was an excellent advert for the league and the game of netball. The two teams matched each other pound for pound and could not be separated in regulation time. The humdinger of a match was decided in extra time, with Platinum Queens eventually emerging victorious.
Whilst it is still early days, the level of netball that was on display yesterday was tremendous and augurs well for the future considering the long lay-off due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The netball fiesta paves the way for the league, which is scheduled to start in two weeks.
Guest of honour at the tournament, Zimbabwe Netball Association (ZINA)president Letitia Chipandu said the launch of the league was a significant victory for netball.
“Today (yesterday), this launch has seen netball win. The sport should win not individuals. The girls and women who play netball have won today,” said Chipandu.
“I want to sincerely thank the PNL executive for initiating the league and complying with ZINA dictates which led to it being registered.”
It has been a see-saw affair between Rainbow Ametuer League, who initially sought to be affiliated as an amateur group and the netball mother body over the affiliation of RANL and its league. The sticking point has been some of the clauses on the RANL constitution that ultra vires that of the national association.
However, if the PNL has the blessing of ZINA and the attendance of representatives from the Ministry of Youth Arts Sports and Culture, the Sports and Recreation Commission has all but endorsed the new ZINA sanctioned league.
“They had their constitution, and everything was in line with what is expected of a league to register, and I’m saying congratulations to the PNL executive for a job well done,” Chipandu added.
However, veteran sports administrator who is also one of the Zimbabwe Olympic Committee vice presidents has not completely shut the door for anyone who may want to register their league with ZINA.
“PNL is the only professional league that can be registered with ZINA, but other smaller leagues can also be registered,” she said.
“ZINA constitution allows only one professional league, and that is PNL who came through seeking to run a professional league.”
PNL is still to get sponsorship for their league, which kicks off in a fortnight, and Chipandu has implored those running PNL to be professional in their conduct.
“Sponsors want to partner with people that are organised, people that have got a vision and something to sell, and PNL has something which is netball, that’s their brand,” she said.
PNL chairperson Thabiso Mokoena thanked club sponsors and the clubs for their sacrifice without sponsorship for the league.
“Sponsorship, as we stated earlier, is not a right but a privilege in these trying economic times,” said Mokoena.
“We appreciate you. As we begin the 2021 season without sponsorship, I give credit to the sacrifice being made. The tournament was a success
