GOVERE TAKES A LEAP OF FAITH

Veronica Gwaze-Sports Reporter

WHEN Hamu Govere left Glow Petroleum Queens at the start of the season, she was not sure if she had made the right call in her career.

The agile midcourt player had just been with the Rainbow Netball League champions for a season before making a hasty decision to leave.

What made her departure even more interesting is her decision to leave a handsomely remunerating side to join Bikita Minerals and start a netball team for the lithium miners.

“For more than a decade, all I had known was life as a netball player and it was time to take a step of faith and explore a ‘new’ journey,” she said.

Zimpapers Sports understands that at Bikita, Govere and her team are not paid.

Instead, their employer only assists them with transport for away games.

Without a budget to acquire renowned players, Govere is currently Bikita Minerals’ player-coach.

“Although I still enjoy playing, I just needed a fresh challenge and coaching had to be it,” she said.

“Starting the project was tough, I had to go into the community to scout for players and then start with the basics of the game but I am happy that things are shaping up now.”

Looking at how she has fared so far, her journey depicts a story of passion, resilience and steadfast love for netball.

Bikita sit just above the relegation line with Govere making it clear that their mission is to survive the chop.

“My journey as a full-time player had to be the foundation for my coaching,” said Govere.

“As a player, my role was to take instructions from the coach and grind results from the midcourt without neccesarily carrying a lot of burden but now I have to be the mentor and strategist.

“I now have to understand the game’s complexities and its dynamics which, therefore, means researching and learning more about netball every day.

“I knew it was not going to be easy because most of our players are new to professional netball.

“So, starting the season meant acclimatising and instantly transforming into professionals to match the competition.

“It was difficult during the first days, remember I am also a first-time coach and these are times when you need someone to hold your hand so I had to mature quickly.”