By SANDRA MWILA –
THE International Handball Federation (IHF) Zone Six championship gets underway in Lusaka today despite the national motherbody failing to raise the K175,000 deficit.
Meanwhile, Lesotho, Mozambique, South Africa and Swaziland were among the first four countries that arrived in Lusaka yesterday with Botswana, Zimbabwe and Malawi were expected later in the evening.
The Handball Association of Zambia (HAZ) had set a budget of K405, 000 but only managed to raise K230, 000 but communication manager Josab Changa is confident that his association will host a successful seven-day tournament.
The tournament to be held at the Olympic Youth Development Centre (OYDC) will see the eight participating teams competing for top slot to qualify for the Africa Championship next year.
Changa said in an interview yesterday that the Zambian team had prepared adequately for the tournament and that focus was to qualify for the continental finals. The IHF officials will on the sidelines of the competition conduct coaching referee courses.
The boys team has Thomas Mwalungwane (Kamwala Stars), Namulumba Tembo (Green Eagles), Elijah Tembo (Kamwala Stars), Chikatizyo Banda (Kasisi Dynamite), George Zulu (Lilanda Dynamos), Pervious Mwenya (Lilanda Dynamos), Antony Mulenga (Lusaka Tigers), Likeangel Phiri (Green Eagles), Mwenda Bwalya (Kasisi Dynamite), James Mbewe (Kamwala Stars), Musa Kambunda (Lusaka Tigers), Christoher Kabwe (Lusaka Tigers), David Kalunga (Kasisi Dynamite), Moses Tonga (Lusaka Tigers), Prechard Ndlovu (Lusaka Tigers) and Gracious Lupiya (Green Eagles).
Etiphen Banda of Mufulira leads the girls team that has Ruth Mulenga (Kamwala Stars),Victoria Phiri (Kasisi), Ruth Mbewe (Green Eagles), Royce Ngwira (Kabwe), Moria Kamfya (Green Eagles), Rita Muluti (Kasisi), Elizabeth Daka (Green Eagles), Patience Chanda (Lusaka Tigers), Elizabeth Gondwe (Lusaka Tigers), Catherine Phiri (Green Eagles), Janet Simwanza (Lusaka Tigers), Majory Mbewe (Green Eagles),Lydia Kaira (Lusaka Tigers),Clara Ngandu (Green Eagles), Sylvia Simunyola (Nkana) and Ester Nyanganga (Kamwala Stars).
