adminSeeing Zimbabwe playing in their debut Netball World Cup in Liverpool ignited the desire for Nalani Makunde to want to represent the country someday. This was the first time that the Gems tasted global competition.
In their first appearance, Zimbabwe finished in eighth overall position. The Gems managed to qualify for a second successive World Cup after defeating Zambia in the third place match playoff at the 2022 Africa Netball qualifiers.
The goal shooter’s dream came true when she was named in the Gems squad for the 2023 edition of the Netball World Cup taking place in Cape Town.
Makunde is based in Australia where she plays for Capital Darters based in Canberra, in the Australian Netball Championship. She also represents Brisbane South Wildcats in the Hart Sapphire Series in Queensland.
Born to an Australian mother and Zimbabwean father, Makunde accidentally started playing netball at her school but has since grown and is now representing the country of her birth on a global stage.
“I played a lot of sports at school just for fun and it kind of grew from that. The ACT coach used to say ‘you should come and trial for the State team,’ so I did and somehow I made the team and from there on I have been playing,” says Makunde.
“Until the 2019 World Cup and seeing that Zim had a team, I hadn’t considered it or hadn’t really thought about it. I never really thought I was good enough to play in the World Cup before that, until last year when I really started thinking that maybe this is a possibility.
“Looking into it and figuring out it could happen. I’m from Australia and to play in the World Cup in Australia you have to be a professional player in Super Netball. Those players are super competitive and so good. So, you don’t really think of yourself in the same space,” she explains.
Ironically, Makunde made her national debut against the country she is based in, Australia. The Diamonds defeated the 16th ranked team 86-30 in the opening match of the tournament -SuperSport.
Mathew Masinge
Online Reporter