Netball team for Singapore

Chaneta assistant secretary general Rose Mkisi

Tanzania national netball team yesterday boarded a Singapore-bound flight to compete in the six-nation championship that gets underway today.

The eight-day long event has attracted five other teams from the rest of the continent as Tanzania is the only team from Africa.

Chaneta’s assistant secretary general Rose Mkisi confirmed the team’s departure while naming Ireland, Scotland, Malaysia, Canada and hosts Singapore as participants.

Tanzania has been paired against Ireland in their opening match to be played on Sunday.

“We hope our team might perform well in the championships to ascend in world rankings and gain experience from other world class teams,” said Mkisi.

Beside the players, other officials accompanying the team are Chaneta chairperson Anna Bayi, referee Damian Chonya, Joel Mwakitalu and head coach Mary Protas.

Mkisi named the full line-up making the Tanzanian contingent in the trip as skipper Jacqueline Sikozy, Agnes Simkonda, Sophia Komba, Pascalina Kibayasa, Zuhura Twalibu, Semeni Selemani, Monica Kessy and Nyirabu Maxmilian.

Others are Neema Emanuel, Levina Julius, Judith Kazinja, Faraja Malaki, Doritha Mbunda and Lillian Sylidio.

The round robin tournament would see Tanzania play their second match against Scotland, then Canada and lastly Malaysia.

The team captain remained optimistic to play well in the tourney despite flopping in the international championship staged at their backyard last October.

The minister for Information, Culture and Sports, George Mkuchika, presented the national flag to the team at a brief ceremony held in Dar es Salaam a day before boarding the Singapore-bound flight.

The team departed amid complaints from Zanzibar netball association, Chaneza, in connection with composition of the players.

Chaneza’s acting secretary general Rahima Bakari said Chaneta erred in sidelining the Zanzibar players as only Mainland ones are included in the squad.