The Bulawayo Netball Association on Thursday donated a set of playing jerseys, T-shirts and kit bags to the Botswana-bound Zimbabwe Under-21 team for the Netball World Youth Cup qualifiers starting Sunday.

The squad, made up of 14 players and seven officials, left by road on Thursday aboard a 36-seater minibus donated by Glow Petroleum.

“We felt we should do our part as Bulawayo, hence this small donation. We have about six players in the travelling squad and those are fruits of working hard,” said BNA president Ruth Hove.

Zimbabwe Netball Association president Letticia Chipandu said the game was thriving through the support of partners like Bulawayo province and Glow Petrolium.

“The Bulawayo netball executive went out of their way and bought this kit for the national team and we are so glad and humbled by this gesture.

“It is such donations from Bulawayo that has seen netball thriving. As an association, we have never failed to fulfil an international association due to lack of funds,” said Chipandu.

Captain Felistas Kwangwa said they were psyched up and looking forward to the qualifiers.

“We prepared hard for this tournament from the first day we got into camp, which by the way was not a holiday camp, but very demanding.

“Everyone in the team is raring to go and I am confident Zimbabwe will be part of the elite nations at the World Cup finals next year,” said Kwangwa.

Zimbabwe will compete for the three available places against Lesotho, South Africa, Zambia, Malawi, Namibia and Uganda, while Botswana automatically qualify as tournament hosts.

Swaziland, who Zimbabwe were supposed to take on in their opener on Sunday, have since pulled out of the qualifiers.

Zimbabwe squad: Felistas Kwangwa, Mercy Mukwadi, Sanele Ncube, Nomagugu Makhalima, Michell Muzanenhamo, Eunice Nyasaland, Stembile Chitive, Patricia Mauladi, Chido Chiwenga, Linnette Tanhira, opafadzo Muhwira, Prisca Ganyani, Shalom Ncube, Vimbai Chirinda, Sharon Bwanali