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Veronica Gwaze
Sports Reporter
ZIMBABWE senior netball team assistant coach, Tatenda “Ninja” Shinya, has called time on his netball career spanning over 15 years.
The 34-year-old, who was one of the youngest national team coaches in Africa, revealed that his decision was as a result of pressure and frustrations.
“It is time to rest from netball after 15 good years. I have experienced happiness, sorrow, stress, frustration, abuse and it is time to let go,” said Shinya.
“I need to focus on other things because I am sure that there is nothing that I will miss in netball because I did all that I wished for and had a chance to live my dream.
“Thank you netball family for the time and love, but I have to move on although it is not an easy decision to make.”
The youthful gaffer got his first national team call-up in May, 2022, ahead of the Confederation of Southern African Netball Associations (COSANA) Games held in Malawi.
He came in to assist Ropafadzo Mutsauki, who had just been elevated, following the departure of Lloyd Makunde.
“The call-up came when I least expected, I did not think that at my age I could be entrusted with national duty,” said Shinya.
“It was a moment for me to fulfil my dreams because I had always wished to coach at that level.”
Bongani Ndlovu
Mathew Masinge