City girl attracts clubs after netball W/Cup

Tadious Manyepo, Harare Bureau

GEMS Goal Attack/Wing Attack Nicole Muzanenhamo could be on her way to the promised land after catching the eye of a couple of South African netball teams.

The 21-year-old gave a good account of herself at the just ended Netball World Cup in Cape Town, South Africa. 

Although she was making her debut at the global tournament staged on African soil for the first time, Muzanenhamo played like a veteran in the two positions throughout the competition.

The Greenfuel star even won the player of the match prize when Zimbabwe beat Singapore in their third match of the second preliminary round. 

She was pivotal to Zimbabwe’s successful bid to finish in 13th place after flopping in their ambitious fourth place initial target. Several South African teams are reportedly lining up for her signature.

A source within the Gems hierarchy told Zimpapers Sports Hub that Muzanenhamo was a wanted player by a couple of teams in South Africa.

“I cannot divulge much at the moment but certainly Nicole Muzanenhamo is wanted by some top South African teams,” said the source.

“The teams have already approached relevant authorities but at the moment, I can’t say much since the issue is still developing.” 

Muzanenhamo is one of the few players who stepped up to the plate at the Netball World Cup. The agile player was placed in Wing Attack despite the fact that she brings out the best at Goal Attack which she plays at Greenfuel.

With Tafadzwa Matura playing Goal Attack, Muzanenhamo still showed she can be a utility playing with style and vigour in Wing Attack before she was eventually moved to Goal Attack while Matura was rested.

She told Zimpapers Sports Hub that although her preferred position is Goal Attack, she is comfortable playing anywhere on the court.

“At times, one needs to be flexible and be able to perform well at any given position.

“I have played netball for a long time now and I can play any position on the court,” said Muzanenhamo.

“I am very glad to have had a chance to play at this level of the game.

“The intention was to throw my best and help my team achieve the top four target. It was not to be as we settled for 13th place. But number 13 is never that bad at the World Cup. 

“We are now very confident we can compete at this stage and without slight mistakes, we can be a very big team.”

Meanwhile, the Gems were scheduled to fly back from the Netball World Cup yesterday evening.

They finished 13th in the 16-team tournament which was won by Australia who beat England in the final at the Cape Town International Convention Centre on Sunday.