RAINBOW Netball National League champions Correctional Queens take their title challenge campaign to Mutare, where they face fellow prison guards Tenax as well as police side ZRP Vixens in the third bubble of the season.
While competition is expected from the home side, it is likely that Correctional Queens will collect maximum points once again.
They are currently riding high after defeating Glow Petroleum 55-49 in their own backyard a fortnight ago.
Black Mambas’ unbeaten run will come to check when they meet a wounded Flow Angels, who surrendered their lead on the log when they were beaten by Green Fuel in Ruwa two weeks back.
The bubble, which will be played at the Harare Municipality Grounds, will include the hosts Chibwe, who have been finding the going tough so far after losing all their first four games.
The Simbarashe Nyoni-coached police team, Mambas, will have to be at their best as Flow Angels are playing some of their best netball under the guidance of former national team coach Tatenda Shinya.
Flow Angels can ill afford another loss as this will see them sliding further down the log.
Another unbeaten team, Green Fuel, are expected to collect maximum points at the Belvedere Teachers College Bubble when they play the hosts Belvedere as well as RioZim.
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The new kids on the block, who have already gotten the better of big teams, namely Santa, Tenax and Flow Angels, are on a mission and they are the favourites to win all their games.
The Khami Prison Bubble, which is a Bulawayo Derby, is expected to produce thrillers.
Khami and Mthala are the Bulawayo giants, and both teams are expected to recover from their losses to Santa and Black Mambas, respectively.
The two Bulawayo giants have clinical goalshooters in Amanda Ncube for Mthala and Leonah Nyathi for Khami, who finished on second and third position on the Golden Hand list of 2024, which was won by Tafadzwa Mawango of Correctional Queens.
The teams boast very good mid-court players, Gabisile Sibanda and Pamela Muchena for Mthala, while Khami have Perseverance Mukuku and Stacey Ncube, meaning this can be anyone’s game.
Mthala coach Nhlanhla Ndlovu is cautious ahead of the derby.
“It’s a tough game, indeed, and am really going to push the girls so we can come out with a good result, but I believe in them and the team work,” Ndlovu said.
Khami Queens coach Melody Ncube knows what to expect.
“It is always the most anticipated bubble here in Bulawayo,” she said.
“It has never been a predictable game ever since we have played each other.”
Also in the mix is Yadah, who have been the whipping girls of the league so far, sitting at the bottom of the log table.
Glow Petroleum will not have it easy this weekend as they face Santa in their own back yard at the Zimbabwe Forestry Mutare Bubble, which will also feature ZRP Masvingo.
After losing to champions Correctional Queens in the last bubble, Glow Petroleum will be looking to make amends.
Golden Valley will have home advantage as they host Hyda and Ruwa in what promises to be the most exciting bubble of the week.
All three teams have a lot to prove.
