Andrew
Veronica Gwaze
HIS is a rare feat.
In a space of a year, he has qualified for two World Cup events with different sporting teams.
Tatenda Shinya will first feature at the 2023 Netball World Cup in Cape Town, South Africa, in July, where he will be Gems gaffer Ropafadzo Mutsauki’s assistant.
The following month, he is expected to trade his netball coaching hat for that of a player, as he will lead Zimbabwe’s korfball team to Taipei, China, as the captain.
The Panthers, as the team are affectionately known, secured their second successive World Cup qualification as gold medallists.
After failing to feature at what was supposed to be their maiden appearance at the global showcase in 2019 due to financial constraints, Shinya is still sceptical and fears that financial challenges could once again scupper his joy.
“I am ecstatic right now. Qualifying for the World Cup with netball as a coach and korfball as a player is huge for me.
“I will be making a World Cup debut for both teams, something I never imagined, but I do not want to get over-excited because the financial situation is still bad for both teams,” he said.
Shinya, who is currently in camp with the Gems ahead of their participation at the South Africa Diamond Challenge tourney, had to briefly leave camp to take part in the Korfball World Cup Qualifiers.
He is now back with the Gems, and should be part of the delegation when they leave for South Africa today.
The Diamond Challenge is scheduled to run from November 21 to 26.
Hosts South Africa’s Proteas, who are also the tournament favourites, Scotland and the Gems will be battling for honours.
A select side, the South Africa President’s XII, have also been included following Malawi’s last-minute withdrawal from the contest.
While the Gems seek to pick up points for their International Netball Federation rankings, the tournament is also part of their preparations for the World Cup.
Shinya revealed that he had picked up some useful notes from his korfball excursion in Zambia, which he believes could benefit the netball team.
“Sport is all about learning every day. Any good player or coach understands that it is key to pick up lessons from every outing,” he said.
Zimbabwe, anchored by a strong defence, emerged from the qualifiers without tasting defeat, and Shinya liked the manner in which they defended as a team and created the much-needed turnovers. It is a tactic he has been imparting to his Gems.
Shinya, who has been into netball since his school days at Glen View 1 High around 2011, thought of trying out korfball in 2013 as a player-coach for H-Town Pioneers.
Since the sport codes are almost similar, it was easy for him to grasp the basics of korfball.
Since then, he has found a way of striking a balance between his netball duties and the playing demands of korfball.
“I am allowed to train whenever and wherever I am needed at the time. However, when I got a Gems call-up, it meant I had to invest more in netball.
“Nevertheless, it came as an advantage for me because the more I understood international netball, the more I grasped some tricks that would help me develop in korfball.”
“I am grateful that the Zimbabwe Netball Association gave me a chance to briefly leave camp and be with the korfball team and then travel to Zambia just to make history,” said Shinya.
Online Reporter