admin
Tinashe Kusema
CONSTANCE Ngwende, aged 22 and perhaps the next superstar of Zimbabwe women’s rugby, wants to use her voice to effect change.
She worries with the prescience of someone twice her age, and it seems almost poetic that her target audience happens to be the ‘girl child’.
“They have to know the road they are taking, before embarking on the journey,” said the Police Defenders’ Centre, describing her mantra.
Ngwende is currently the talk of the town after leading the Lady Cheetahs to the 2019 Kwese International Sevens title, which was punctuated with a 31-nil clinical win over Zambia in last Sunday’s final.
As a bridge between the old guard — that includes the likes of skipper Charity Mucucuti and Precious Marange — and some of the younger players; the Lady Cheetahs vice-captain stood head and shoulders above the rest.
Not an easy feat; given that she is only 1,6 meters in height, and under normal circumstances should be nowhere near a rugby pitch.
But, for what Kadiki — as she is affectionately known within rugby circles — lacks in height and power, she makes up for it with her big heart.
“My rugby story is quite simple, to be honest,” said Kadiki.
“I am originally from Rusape, where I did my primary school at St Killians, before moving to George Stark for my secondary school.
“I arrived at George Stark round about the same time the sport was being introduced by my very first coach Victor Pekani, and decided to join on a whim.
“I picked up the basics very fast and grew to love the sport as I excelled rather quickly.
“I got a scholarship to Vianona High School, which exposed me to the sport a lot more, winning many accolades with the most notable being a Woman of the Tournament award at a then Cottco Rugby Festival, and a national team call up back in 2015,” she said.
Rugby, funny enough, has never been truly her first love, but a hobby and now a tool to effect change.
The Vianona High alumini’s true passion lies in her work as a FITR mentor, which simply means Female Inspiration Through Rugby; a programme that was founded by former England women’s captain Catharine Spanse.
“I met Spanse back in 2016, when she came to Zimbabwe, after which she introduced me and a couple other players to the programme.
“At the time, I was already doing some work with the girl child through tag rugby, but felt this was a good programme and could do wonders for what I was trying to achieve.
“As the girl child, we need to be mentored, and guided, so that we will have a bright future.
“And as sports personalities I have always felt we need to help guide those that follow our footsteps. Our stories and experiences can help those that come after us make better decisions and that is what this programme does,” she said.
Rugby has given so much to Ngwende, acting as a catalyst in one of her hobbies.
“I love traveling, meeting new people and trading war stories.
“The hope is things like these can inspire other people to take up sport and do something with their lives,” said the Lady Cheetahs fly-half.
Online Reporter