Fred Mugerwa joins Zimbabwe Gems as technical head
Mugerwa brings a wealth of international experience to the Zimbabwean side, having coached Uganda's She Cranes at several major international tournaments.
Ugandan netball coach Fred Mugerwa Tabale. PHOTO: Gerald Kikulwe
Ugandan netball coach Fred Mugerwa Tabale, the head coach of KCCA Netball Club, has joined the Zimbabwe national netball team, the Gems, as head of technical as the country steps up preparations for the 2027 Netball World Cup qualifiers.
Mugerwa brings a wealth of international experience to the Zimbabwean side, having coached Uganda's She Cranes at several major international tournaments.
He is particularly remembered for guiding Uganda to qualification for the 2015 Netball World Cup, ending a 36-year wait since the country's previous appearance at the global tournament in 1979.
Zimbabwe will compete alongside seven other African nations: Malawi, Namibia, Zambia, Botswana, hosts Kenya, Tanzania and Nigeria. Only two teams from the regional tournament will secure places at the 2027 World Cup.
For Zimbabwe, the Nairobi tournament represents an important opportunity to secure a place at a third consecutive World Cup. The Gems featured at the 2019 World Cup in Liverpool, England, and returned to the global stage at the 2023 tournament in Cape Town, South Africa.
Mugerwa is expected to strengthen Zimbabwe's technical preparations with his experience of African and international netball, as the Gems seek to navigate a highly competitive African qualification campaign and book their place in Sydney.
Zimbabwe is expected to travel to Kenya around September 14, giving the team several days to settle in and make final preparations before the qualifiers begin.