Taifa Queens leave for Kenya with World Cup ticket in sight

By Victoria Godfrey

Tanzania’s national netball team, Taifa Queens, leaves for Kenya today determined to secure a place at next year’s Netball World Cup in Austria.

The team will compete in the African World Cup qualifiers scheduled for September 19-26, with Tanzania among the sides seeking to book a place at the global tournament.

With the qualifiers offering a direct route to the World Cup, Taifa Queens have been urged to approach every match with determination and put the country’s interests first.

Speaking yesterday during a ceremony to hand over the national flag to the team, National Sports Council (NSC) sports officer Charles Maguzu told the players to fight for the country and make the most of the opportunity.

“Go and fight. Participating in a World Cup competition is not a small task; it is a major undertaking,” Mr Maguzu said.

He urged Tanzanians to support the national team and other athletes representing the country abroad, saying players should remain focused on protecting the country’s interests while competing internationally.

Mr Maguzu also reminded the players to remain composed regardless of the outcome, but challenged them to enter the competition with victory as their objective.

Netball Tanzania secretary general Rahma Kilimba said the team comprises 14 players who will carry Tanzania’s hopes in the qualifiers.

She said preparations had been conducted in camp from September 2 to 17, giving the players time to train and build their readiness ahead of the tournament.

Taifa Queens captain Jesca said the team was not travelling to Kenya merely to participate, but to compete for a place at the World Cup.

“We are going to Kenya to fight and secure qualification for the World Cup, not just to participate,” she said.

She said the players were ready to give their best throughout the competition and work collectively to deliver positive results for Tanzania.

For Taifa Queens, the qualifiers represent an important opportunity to translate weeks of preparation into results on the court and keep Tanzania’s World Cup hopes alive.