Rudo Saungweme It was all joy today at the State House when the First Lady met the Zimbabwe Senior Netball team which is set to leave for the World Cup scheduled for next month in Liverpool, England. Speaking at the meeting, Deputy Minister of Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation, Honourable Yeukai Simbanegavi said this was a milestone achievement to the people of Zimbabwe in general and the sporting fraternity in particular as it is the first team to make it to a world cup tournament since 1980. "The Zimbabwe Senior Netball team made it to the Vitality Netball World Cup last year after coming second to Uganda in the qualification games played in Zambia in July 2018. "This is the girls' first achievement to the people of Zimbabwe in general and the sporting fraternity in particular as they become the first team to make it to a world cup tournament since 1980," she said. Honourable Simbanegavi said that the "Gems" who are the Zimbabwe Senior Netball team follow the Golden Girls who made history in 1989 by appearing at the 1980 Olympic in Moscow Russia. "The "Gems" follow the Golden Girls who in 1980 made history by appearing at the 1980 Olympic in Moscow, Russia where they got a gold medal and no other team sport has surpassed that feet," said the Minister. Honourable Simbanegavi said that the meeting was in accordance with our tradition that a girl child is given guidance by elders before embarking on any adventure. "Your Excellency, Amai Mnangagwa as you are aware, it is our tradition that when a child is about to go on an expedition, he or she is given guidance by the elders before embarking on such adventure. "This is meant to ensure that the child is well acquainted with the general expectations on how he or she should carry herself in a foreign land, "she implored. Minister Simbanegavi said that as the ministry, they found it proper for the netball players to spend some quality time with Amai Mnangagwa who is the mother of the nation so that they can be given some words of wisdom. Minister said that the netball players needed to be socially and psychologically prepared just like a newly married girl before she goes to her new home. The "Gems" will join South Africa, Malawi and Uganda which are the only African countries which qualified for the World Cup. The Government funded the two friendly matches the girls played against Uganda and South Africa last year in June so that they get the preparation they require for the World Cup. In supporting the netball team, the Government has also paid the team's accommodation bill and airfares to England. Honourable Simbanegavi assured the First lady that the "Gems" as the first team to qualify for such a tournament, will not embarrass her and the nation at large but will bring glory and pride to same.