NWC2019: Backing the Zambian Dream

Meet the Zambian National Netball Squad.  This amazing group of women are on a quest to successfully qualify for the 2019 Netball World Cup being held in our very own home country, England next summer.  For these women, the opportunity to compete on another continent will be a once in a lifetime event and they have been working incredibly hard to get to this point, balancing careers, home lives and a huge commitment to their netball.  

I have been lucky enough to work with the squad over the past few weeks as part of the NET2019 legacy project as a guest netball coach, supporting their preparation for the African Nations Qualifying Tournament to be held on their home turf in Lusaka from the 13th-19th August.  They are an incredibly talented group of athletes whose lives have been shaped by the sport we all love but who are training and competing without many of the essential items that we take for granted such as first aid provision, netball trainers and sports bras.

So I am sending out this plea to the #5WaysFamily and beyond to ask for your support by helping to sponsor every squad member (20 players) so they are properly equipped to perform in the qualifying tournament, and maybe, just maybe give them that extra boost they need to get them over the line and into the Netball World Cup next year.  The impact on their individual lives, their families and the sport on the whole in Zambia will be huge if they are able to qualify and raise the profile of netball in their nation.

So, by my reckoning if just 20 clubs across the country got behind this project by sponsoring a player at £150 each we could easily provide them with the vital supplies that they need (a sports bra is pretty fundamental right....?!). Or any companies out there who can put their weight behind this in sponsorship or discounted (free!) sports gear/equipment I want to hear from you.   And of course any individuals with a few pennies to spare, all donations gratefully received.

 I am trying to source the following for the squad of 20:

* Netball trainers
* Netball shorts
* Sports bras
* Sports socks
* Water bottles
* Training kit (shorts, leggings, vest top)
* Sweat band/towels
* Kit bag
* Ball bags x 2 (they are currently using a torn bin lining to carry their netballs)
* Ball pumps x 2
* First Aid Kits
* Tennis balls

It's a very short turnaround but I love a challenge so please give what you can.  

Some of these things aren't "nice to haves"....they're "MUST HAVES!!"

To find out more follow the story on Facebook and Instagram and England Netball

England Netball NET2019: Diary of a netball coach 

5Ways Netball - Facebook 

5Ways Netball - Instagram