Israel Saria
The netball association of Tanzania, CHANETA, has selected 28 players who would train for the next three weeks before the final squad of 18 is selected.
The team would feature in the inaugural international open championships to be staged in Dar es Salaam from September 28 through October.
Chaneta’s chairperson Anna Bayi said 13 of the selected players have already set up a camp at the Filbert Bayi school in Kibaha to under take training under coach Mary Protus.
Protus said the players are training three times a day as they gear up for the September showdown.
The coach said the need to start the camp early is to impart the players with sufficient stamina to build a formidable side.
She named the players who have reported and their respective regions/teams where they come from as; Jacqueline Sihozi (Coast), Teuwa Ally (Lindi), Levina Chuma, Semeni Mathew and Mligo Mabala (Dodoma), Judith Kazinja (Mwanza), Paskaria Kibayasa, Sophia Komba and Monica Kassu (State House), Nyirabu Maximilian (Mara), Halima Boni (Prisons), Monica Aloyce and Eliza Fusi ( Ardhi).
The rest of the players who are yet to report include; Grace Peter, Agnes Simkonda, Faraja Malaki and Anosiata Anthony (Jeshi Stars), Dorita Mbuda, Angela Ignas, Levina Julius and Mwanaidi Hassan (JKT), Neema Emmanuel and Teddy Lukindo (Police DSM), Eveline Peter (Police Mara), Marry Andrew and Bettina Kazinja (Morogoro Prisons).
The coach said players would win the final squad selection basing on not only their performance but also discipline would be taken into account.
Bayi said invitation has been extended to 23 national teams and so far 12 have confirmed to participate.
Confirmed countries as named by the Chaneta boss include Namibia, Botswana, Lesotho, Swaziland, South Africa, Malawi, Ireland, Kenya, Uganda, Zambia and Seychelles.
The final squad will play at least three international trials against selected teams but most likely Kenya, Uganda and Zanzibar.
safi sana hii!