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Veronica Gwaze Sports Reporter
FOR netball’s golden oldie, Chipo Tsumba and those of her generation, playing the sport in the ghetto provided an escape from the community humdrum.
Tsumba reveals that during her era, financial rewards were the least of their motivational factors.
“Netball gave us so much kick and we played for no reward,” reminisces one of Zimbabwe’s netball grannies on what a simple game meant to them back then.
More than two decades later, 52-year-old Tsumba, one of the most renowned former players of the national team and St Mary’s Club, still has fond memories of the game.
To many, the story of St Mary’s Netball Club could be a distant tale as most of those who were part of the history-making team are now late.
The club is unarguably the best team ever assembled in the history of local netball as it had an astonishing 13-year unbeaten run between 1985 and 1998.
Formed by veteran and current senior national team manager Ledwin Dondo in 1985, the team was captained by Tsumba for close to a decade.
The team members included Gladys Murisa, mother to 1996 Soccer Star of the Year Stewart Murisa, Chioniso Ariferi, Ronica Marondera, Faresi John, Jane Makoni, Memory Mandirahwe and Ebboh Mlambo.
“Despite earning very little or sometimes nothing, the passion was a factor, there was so much dedication, discipline and maturity.
“We later got a deal with council where they gave us space at local bars to cook and sell sadza.
“At first we cooked at St Mary’s Hall, taking turns as a team. Well-wishers supported us and later we even got kit sponsors from there.
“Then came our first major sponsorship from Gijima Musindo, we got into a naming deal and changed to Chatira Queens. Later, more sponsors came on board.
“The municipality would offer transport for our away games; the community also loved the team, they came in numbers to watch us play and at times even cleaned the grounds for us,” Tsumba said.
Her story dates back to her primary school days at Chishawasha when she tried netball one day just for the fun of it before transferring to Chitungwiza’s Pfumo Primary.
She continued with the game at Zengeza 2 High School, where she played as a defender, but did not seem to take the sport seriously.
In 1988, she was spotted by Dondo at a local game and signed under St Mary’s Club. Shortly afterwards, she became one of the team’s regular faces.
“It’s funny that I used to abscond netball training at secondary school, I was more in love with drama and theatre. With teachers constantly nagging, I had no choice, but to settle for netball. In no time, I developed a deep love for the game waindiona ndiine hweshe, ndakakaka mhando dzese dze hweshe.”
Tsumba was part of the team that played in the inaugural league upon its formation in 1993. Zimbabwe Republic Police, St Mary’s, Highlanders, Hwange, Mhangura and Black Rhinos made up the cast of netball’s first league. She later earned herself a spot in the national team for the 5th All-Africa Games squad hosted by Zimbabwe in 1995.
That team won a silver medal.
Despite achieving that feat, netball’s sponsorship woes continued.
At times the national team would camp, but fail to travel for tournaments. However, Tsumba recalls that the situation did not discourage them.
“Camp, be it national team or club level, was just significant and well respected. We had strong bonds, even if we failed to travel, next camp all players were in by day end.”
Tsumba recalls how the game was more about winning ahead of salaries or anything else.
Last year, she followed the Gems’ feat at the World Cup on television.
“I am no longer a player, but the game is still in my DNA and whatever achievement it comes with I feel I am part of it. It was like my World Cup dreams had been fulfilled,” Tsumba said.
Online Reporter