The senior women’s national handball team is preparing for its first international competition, with coach Hafedh Zouabi focusing on tactical organisation, speed of play and decision making ahead of the IHF Women’s Nations Trophy Africa Zone 5 in Tanzania. The tournament is scheduled for November 4-8. “Our preparation began with three days of testing and assessment. We then moved into collective training, developing our attacking and defensive organisation,” Zouabi said. “We have prioritised the demands of modern handball: speed of play, quick transitions and effective decision-making under pressure,” he added. The coach said the team would use friendly matches against the Gorillas boys’ team on Friday and Sunday to assess its progress, with a possible third match planned before the squad travels to Tanzania in early November. ALSO READ: Unopposed Twahirwa admits unfinished reforms in Rwandan handball Zouabi said the initial selection involved 36 players identified with support from women’s club coaches. Of those, 29 joined the training camp, after which the technical staff reduced the group to 20 following three days of evaluation. “Our objective is to do our best and represent Rwanda to an excellent standard. For this first international experience, we will approach the tournament match by match, assess our performances and make the necessary adjustments,” he said. ALSO READ: APR HC face tough test on continental return Beyond fitness and tactical organisation, the technical staff has focused on improving players’ application of the rules and reducing technical mistakes that could lead to lost possession and goals for opponents. “At international level, these errors can quickly lead to lost possession and goals for the opposition,” Zouabi said. The tournament will therefore provide an opportunity to assess Rwanda’s progress against regional opposition while giving players their first experience of senior international competition. Zouabi said Rwanda’s long term ambitions depend on improving the domestic competition, arguing that the limited number of competitive women’s teams restricted players’ development. “The priority is the same for women’s and men’s handball: a stronger domestic championship, with more competitive teams and regular matches at a good standard,” he said.
