The Sunday News
Brighton Zhawi, Harare Bureau
NEW Gems skipper Felistas Kwangwa has revealed that Zimbabwe’s current world ranking has hindered her from joining an English Netball Super League team.
Zimbabwe’s netball is ranked number 14 in the world. The 24-year-old goal defender was brilliant during the recent Vitality Netball World Cup in Liverpool in July, scooping Most Valuable Player awards against Northern Ireland and Barbados. Her brilliance grabbed the attention of international clubs.
“Surrey Storm coach approached me during the World Cup saying they wanted to sign me, hoping Zimbabwe would break into the top 12 in the world. Their league only allows foreigners from teams in the top 12,’’ Kwangwa told our Harare Bureau last week.
Following the latest International Netball Federation (INF) world rankings, Kwangwa received the following text message.
“Hi Felistus. Unfortunately league rules permits imports from countries in the top 12 only. So for this season we wouldn’t be able to have you join us. We will monitor you from afar and definitely hope this can happen at some point in the future.”
For Kwanga, the kid from Sikhulile High and a lanky girl bred in Njube in Bulawayo who has since grown into a world class netball player, time is everything. She has learnt to be patient, taking each day or game as it comes. Moreover, she already has quite a lot on her plate with her university commitments as she is studying Economic History at the University of Zimbabwe.
“I believe it will happen, I think it’s only a matter of time,” she said when asked about her dream to play in a top flight league.
As for now, attention shifts to the African Netball Championships in October. Taking place in Cape Town, the championships come two months after Kwangwa and the Gems starred at the Vitality Netball World Cup in Liverpool.
She reiterated that national pride was the huge motivation behind her World Cup excellence. Perhaps her employment in the Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services helps her fully understand what it means to play for her country.
