Gems star gives to charity

Tadious Manyepo in CAPE TOWN,      South Africa

THERE is a beast hidden in Progress Moyo’s beauty.

The 29-year-old Gems centre-court marvel has gone through a lot.

From her humble beginnings in rural Mwenezi, where she started playing netball due to parental influence, to a two-year battle with excess weight, Moyo has taken everything in her stride.

She was surprisingly deployed sparingly in the preliminary stages of the Netball World Cup in South Africa, where the Gems failed to stamp their authority.

They lost all their Pool A matches and were subsequently demoted to the bottom-four dog-fight.

With everything looking awful for the Gems, coach Ropafadzo Mutsauki decided to wring some changes.

Moyo and another genius called Assah Zimusi joined the fray, with impressive prospect Nicole Muzanenamo partnering Nalani Makunde in attack.

Everything started working well.

Moyo, who was playing at her second Netball World Cup, having debuted in Zimbabwe’s first appearance in England four years ago, was very instrumental in the Gems’ revival.

The Gems finished 13th after winning a play-off final against Barbados in a match graced by Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation Minister Kirsty Coventry on Friday.

“You would obviously feel we had a chance to clinch a far much better position than number 13,’’ Moyo said.

“But, we started slowly and got into the groove very late. That’s the unfortunate part, but this is not a very bad tournament for us, if you ask me.”

Engineering many raids in the opponent’s ring and blocking many moves at the opposite end, Moyo won so many hearts at the magnificent Cape Town International Convention Centre in the games she played.

But she is not only a heroine inside the court.

She is the ultimate warrior in terms of addressing the plight of disadvantaged girls in the community.

Netball hasn’t made her rich but has thrown opportunities that she wouldn’t have had without the often underrated game.

She attained her first degree (in musicology) on a netball scholarship and she has just completed the second (in development studies).

And she feels she can contribute to the betterment of the society, especially vulnerable girls, through her own small way.

While her colleagues improved their lives with earnings picked from Zimbabwe’s remarkable journey at the 2019 World Cup, where they finished eighth, Moyo used her own income to buy equipment and register a foundation, Future Stars.

It is meant to help young girls and women change how they view life.

A netball team, which plays in Division 2, is part of the whole initiative, while the organisation also pays school fees and tuition for more than 50 girls from disadvantaged backgrounds.

“We carry out programmes that educate girls in various life facets, including education, general grooming and giving them career guidance as well as a voice,” she said.

“The idea of forming a foundation came about after being inspired at the 2019 Netball World Cup. I felt I could as well give back to the society and empower young girls.

“We have several kids we pay school fees for. Others are going to vocational training centres through the foundation.

“We also constantly provide women’s basic needs such as sanitary wear and grocery hampers.

“Recently, we formed a netball team that competes in Division Two. We hope to give life to others through playing this sport.

“However we only play games hosted in Zvishavane since we hardly afford to travel to away venues like Gokwe, Zhombe and Kwekwe due to financial constraints.”

Moyo funds the whole initiative from her netball earnings and what she gets as a professional fitness coach.

And the Netball World Cup has come at an opportune time for her to breathe more life into the organisation.

“I have achieved a lot through netball. I was on a netball scholarship since my days at high school and I have travelled the length and breadth of the world, thanks to this game.

“That’s why I feel I have a role to play in uplifting others although the resources are scarce.”

Perhaps it was fate that helped her recover her lost form due to overweight and loss of confidence before she bounced back into the Gems fold.

Of course, Australia-based goal-shooter Joyce Takaidza, charmed by Moyo’s initiative, often chips in.

Gems assistant coach Tatenda Shinya said Moyo “has a heart and ought to be supported”.

“She is never extravagant. The charity is closer to her heart and there are so many girls learning netball ropes from the age of seven,” said Shinya.

Meanwhile, the Gems were yesterday expected to finally get time to go sightseeing in Cape Town, having wrapped up their campaign on Friday.

They will be part of the closing ceremony procession today after the gold match.

They are expected to return back home on Tuesday.

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