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Veronica Gwaze in Cape Town, South Africa
FOR the first time since they opened their 2023 Netball World Cup campaign the Gems scored first, when they faced Sri Lanka on Tuesday evening .
The Gems, however, needed up to a fifth outing to put their act together and claim their first victory of the prestigious global tournament after overpowering Sri Lanka 71-36. They also beat Singapore yesterday.
Head coach Ropafadzo Mutsauki and his technical bench had to trust youngsters with Tuesday’s task as they continued to fight for positions 13-16 of the competition.
And finally, they may have struck the right chord.
The gaffer placed the duo of Nalani Makunde and Nicole Muzanenhamo in the shooting ring while utility players Claris Kwaramba and Progress Moyo took charge of the Wing Attack and Centre bibs respectively.
Leading from behind, the Felisitus Kwangwa captained side was unstoppable as they dominated from the onset taking to the half time break leading 33-22.
The youngest Gem, 21-year-old Nicole Muzanenhamo, who was also crowned Player of the Match gave the fans some moments to relish.
Although the budding star has featured in all of the Gems’ matches so far, it is the coaches’ decision of playing her a “new” position that left netball followers distraught.
Naturally a Goal Attacker, the 2021 and 2022 Premier Netball League player of the Year had been playing Centre since the start of the tourney.
Interestingly, when she then had to be entrusted with the Goal attacking task in the past two matches, the agile star who boasts of spectacular movement, shots and splits, breathed life to the game.
It is also her clicking combination with Makunde and Moyo that added cherry on top of the cake.
“We have not been getting the desired result in the other matches so as a player, you get to a moment when you sit down and reflect on what you need to do as an individual,” she said.
“Approaching yesterday’s match, I told myself that it is a new day, I told myself that it was a different task hence I needed to forget about all the defeats and play as if this was our opening match of the tournament.”
Ironically, when Muzanenhamo reported for 2023 Netball World Cup final camp earlier in June, she revealed that the call up was in fact another chance to live her dream.
She made it clear that she was ready for the mammoth task that stood ahead.
“My life revolves around Netball and whenever I step on the court, I take it to be the first and only chance that I have to prove my worth but you know sometimes things do not work out,” said the rising star.
Muzanenhamo is one of the players who graduated from the Young Gems, making it on to the seniors’ fold when Zimbabwe went on a rebuilding exercise after the 2019 World Cup. She made debut at the Confederation of Southern Africa Netball Associations (COSANA) Tri-nations tournament in Malawi in June, 2021.
In fact, she has a fascinating history.
Her mother Connie Muzanenhamo is a renowned former player and current South African side Falcon Queens Coach.
Her sister Mitchelle is also a professional netballer under Green Fuel Netball Queens where the two are trusted utility players.
The siblings also featured for the Young Gems for years and made a name for their clicking combination.
Considering her age, it would have been expected of Nicole to have challenges stepping up at a World Cup stage.
And yet, the rookie seems to be living way above her billing.
“The game means everything to me, competition at the World Cup is tough but because it is life to me, I had to do what I had to do and I am happy it worked,” she said.
“Playing at this stage has been part of my dream but the bigger picture is to be an international star and this is what pushes me to work hard every day.”
With countless accolades to her name, she feels her best netball moments are yet to come.
“I have played for the Young Gems before so graduating into the seniors, I had an idea of what it meant.
“However, at the 2023 World Cup Qualifiers last year, I realised that it was tougher than I thought so going back home, I had to work hard although I never thought I could be crowned MVP.
“The past days have not been easy and when I got the chance to play Goal attacker, it felt different and natural, I was pushing hard for us to score more so that we have an advantage of goal difference.
“It feels good to finally win, let alone achieve such a feat, I am motivated to work harder.”
Online Reporter