Forget the biting economy and sky rocketing prices of basic commodities currently taking a toll on Zimbabwe, resettled farmers around the Mapinga area near Banket, had one of their best Independence celebrations ever. Everything was happening at Mapinga Business Centre, on April 18.
The day started with usual activities, as was like any other place in Zimbabwe with people gathering at designated areas, treated to some donated food by political leadership before being made to listen to the President’s speech which is usually read by traditional leadership in rural areas.
When 263Chat news crew arrived at Mapinga Business Centre, there was no sign of any renowned political leadership, except a few local elders who made things happen for the few hundreds of people who gathered to celebrate Zimbabwe’s 39th Independence.
In Harare, when it was time for the crowd at the giant National Sports Stadium to watch Highlanders versus Dynamos, there was something in store for Mapinga villagers, the first of its kind.
It was a netball match between Mapinga ladies netball team versus Northern Eagles men netball team. It was evident from this point that the rural communities were quickly embracing men netball as their urban counterparts.
The match between Mapinga ladies and Northern Eagles men netball team, which joined the national premiership league this season, attracted more audiences than another social soccer football match that pitted Mapinga FC against Saton FC.
Speaking to 263Chat, villagers were excited to have a chance to watch one of their neighbouring men netball teams playing for the first time.
“We have had stories of men netball, but most of us had not found a chance to watch such a match. We have heard about the Northern Eagles men netball team but we had never seen them play. Despite the fact that they are from a neighboring village, we had never seen them play. It’s the first time for many of us,” said Muchaneta Karimazondo, an elderly woman from Mapinga.
Speaking to some of the male netball players, Ali Jafari, Eagles captain, expressed satisfaction for another window of employment opened for them.
“This project started as pass time, but last year, we said we should be playing in the national league and our dream finally came true at the beginning of the year when we affiliated to the national league. We play against big teams like FC Platinum, Bulawayo and others. So we just said let’s keep our communities entertained during this Independence holiday. We actually using this as a training session,” said Jafari.
His words were echoed by Northern Eagles coach Witness Sibamba, who said rural communities enjoy men netball so much.
“The fact that women are now playing soccer as well, actually qualifies why the communities are quickly embracing men netball. We have been playing well in the national league so far. We lost two games in Bulawayo two weeks ago, but made amends by winning two matches in Gweru last weekend. We are there with the best in the league,” Sibamba said.
Due to superior physicality and a bit of professionalism in their team which is now playing in the topflight league, Northern Eagles were by far the best team of the day beating their female counterparts with a heavy score line.
