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Veronica Gwaze
Sports Reporter
FOR 20 years Netsai Mwarikisi has stayed loyal to netball, a sport that transformed her life.
The 39-year-old ZDF Queen’s life is clear testimony of how netball can transform a poor girl’s life into an inspirational tale.
Born in Chitungwiza, the star whose netball journey began at Unit L shops feels herself lucky that her potential in netball was identified in time to rescue her from society’s ill and vices.
“Everything started at Unit L shops’ netball grounds, at 10-year-old girl I used to follow my sister Barbra who was already in the game,” she recalls.
Their father would try to talk them out of the game for reasons that the shops were not a good space for girls to hang around.
Having developed a love for netball to unwind, we then had to strike a balance between school, netball and household tasks.
Despite taking netball as a pastime activity, the two soon rose to be a marvel to fans who came to watch the game.
However, the duo had to devise ways to still go and play.
As fate would have it, it was not long that they were identified by Greenlight Netball Club, formerly Chiuya Queens.
However, there were no meaningful returns at the club hence life at home continued to be that of hand-to-mouth.
At Seke Four Primary, Mwarikisi became one of the school team key players before moving on to Seke Three High School.
It was not long that their father passed on.
Just when things became tougher at home, the two found a big breakthrough with Mwarikisi’s sister signing for Gathsmine Club.
From the meagre returns, she could now place food on the table at home.
Meanwhile, Mwarikisi was taken by one of her coaches, the late Shakespeare Bvunyungwi for trials at ZDF Queens, a team that needed defenders.
Ironically getting to ZDF, the army side had a match on the day hence Mwarisikisi was immediately handed the bib.
“The coach had heard about me so all he wanted was to see if I lived to my billing…I got the bib and immediately did business,” said Mwarikisi.
“They were charmed by my play and my journey with ZDF began.”
Mwarikisi would at some point temporarily turn out for Standard Chartered and Stanbic before reverting to the army side.
In 2008, she got a job in the national army.
Since then, she cemented her legendary status at the team, rising to be the team captain as she bossed at the heart of ZDF’s defence.
In her career spanning close to two decades, Mwarikisi feels at home at ZDF and is not looking elsewhere.
“For me ZDF is a place to be, my life is here and I feel that the right thing for me to do is stay loyal,” she said.
“They transformed my life, I can provide for my family, see my children through school and afford other things.
“I wish my father could have lived longer to see how far I went with netball.”
ZDF are currently top of the Premier Netball League log table, with 30 points, undefeated in 15 games.
Mwarikisi will lead her team as action gets underway this weekend with games scheduled for Mutare, Gweru, Harare and Beit bridge.
“We want to maintain our position at the top of the log, a championship, for me will be a journey 20 years in the making,” she said.
“It is something every player wants and being with the team through its highs and lows, I yearn for this one.
“We are playing against Stormers and Mutare City. They are strong sides so we need to bring our A-game.”
Online Reporter