HARARE, March 11 (NewsDay Live) - Manyame Sparrows women and Spikers men's teams dominated the Zimbabwe Handball Federation (ZHF) Open Season tournament held over the weekend, setting the stage for an exciting and competitive contest this year.
The tourney, held in Kadoma, saw teams from across the country converge to assert their supremacy and claim bragging rights ahead of the 2025 season.In the women's category, Manyame Sparrows HC emerged victorious after displaying classy play, while City Stars HC secured a commendable second place, followed by UCE HC in third and Matebele Queens HC who came fourth.The women's league features six teams and the weekend games provided a glimpse of the competitive spirit that will define the season.Nine teams battled it out in the captivating men's fixture where Spikers HA claimed top spot, emphatically signalling their intentions for the year.Manyame Falcons HC put up a strong fight to secure second place, while UZ Wildcats HC and Spartans HC sealed the top four, in that order.“The tournament was fairly organised and we enjoyed (it), the turn up of teams was fair, but we could have had more teams like institutions and teams from Mashonaland West and Central coming," Spikers Handball Club coach Calvin Banda told NewsDay Sport.
“l am impressed with how Spikers performed, the resilience and morale was high given that we played with big teams like Spartans, Black Rhinos, Manyame and University of Zimbabwe," he said, adding that playing fields and questionable referees in some instances needed improvement.Meanwhile, the season opening tournament served as a crucial platform for teams to gauge their strengths and identify areas for improvement.Manyame player Yophas “Eskay” Sikarungu said the event was filled with excitement, intense competition and hurdles that tested the resilience of players and organizers alike.“As a player for the Manyame Handball Team, I had the privilege of experiencing the tournament firsthand, and I can confidently say it was a memorable start to the season, despite some setbacks,” Sikarungu said.“(It) was a success in many ways and brought together some of the best teams in Zimbabwe, which showcased incredible talent and set the stage for what promises to be an exciting season.”
