Sundaymail Editor
Tinashe Kusema
Deputy Sports Editor
COULD Margaret Magwaro be ready to add yet another feather to her already illustrious sporting cap?
That was undoubtedly the biggest question one would have asked after seeing the 36-year-old clad in a basketball top, rugby shorts and holding a Roger Federer-autographed tennis racket.
In fact, the racket was one of the sporting memorabilia being auctioned and donated for a raffle at the launch of the Zwiss Open tennis tournament at Old Hararians Sports Club.
The launch of the annual event was also used to unveil Zimbabwe tennis ace’s Takanyi Garanganga’s Total Greatness International Foundation.
Both events were launched in partnership with the Swiss Embassy.
Two rackets were on offer, with one auctioned for US$1 200, while Magwaro won the other from the raffle.
Ironically, the winning ticket was number three, which, if one were to be superstitious, would interpret to mean she was adding tennis to her impressive sporting repertoire.
She already has had an impressive career in both women’s basketball and rugby.
The Sunday Mail Sport caught up with her and she opened up on her brief time in the United Kingdom, the prestigious Federer racket and chances of a comeback.
Magwaro has since put paid to suggestions of a competitive career in tennis, but it has certainly piqued her interest.
“Now that I own an autographed racket, it would be a waste to just sit on it and not do something about the sport.
“I think I am going to take up the sport but obviously not competitively.
“Maybe try playing social tennis,” she said.
By her own admission, Magwaro knows very little about the sport.
Locally, she knows Genius Chidzikwe, the Black siblings — Byron, Wayne and Cara — and Garanganga, who she only met for the second time during the launch.
The first time she met Garanganga was during the 2011 All-Africa Games (African Games) in Maputo, Mozambique.
She attended the Garanganga’s Foundation launch at the invitation of her friend.
“I was invited to the Zwiss Open by a close friend, Mathius Widmaier, and we partnered together in the mixed doubles at the tournament.
“He is actually the one who bought the raffle tickets — seven in total — and gave them to me and my friend.
“The tickets were under his name and when I won, he refused to take the racket.
“Winning the racket was a highlight for me; I am yet to find the perfect place to keep it, but I will treasure it,” she said.
Away from tennis, the name Margaret Magwaro is quite big in Zimbabwe basketball and rugby.
Although she called time on her illustrious career, she remains one of the most decorated female basketball players in Zimbabwe.
Since the turn of the millennium, Magwaro played for almost every championship-winning side, collecting 10 national league titles and many other accolades.
She was also part of the history-making national basketball team that qualified for the All-Africa Games in 2011, including the AfroBasket Championships in 2013.
Both tournaments were held in Mozambique.
Magwaro holds the record for the most steals and assists in a single season by a female player, a feat she accomplished with the 2014/2015 all-conquering Vixens basketball club.
She finished that season with 109 steals and 116 assists, in addition to her 208 points.
As part of a now-famous clique — together with Charity Muchuchuti, Precious Pezani and Gina Chisale — Magwaro played a critical role in breaking barriers for women in rugby.
The quartet was among the first females to make a lasting impression in what was predominantly a male sport.
Since her retirement, she went to the United Kingdom to do a masters degree in accounting, played a little college basketball at Portsmouth University and got herself a job.
Retirement has been good to her so much that the issue of a comeback is the furthest thing from her mind.
This is not to say she has not thought about it.
“If you give me a ball, a court and opponent, I will play any day and any time.
“We haven’t started a club but it’s just been social basketball here and there, at Vixens and Foxes,” she said.
Magwaro has thrown her name in the hat to play for Vixens, a club she helped found.
She, however, will only be available on a part-time basis.
Her main duties will be more administrative, and maybe coaching.
It’s a different story for rugby, as she says she ‘no longer has the legs for it’, and is quite content watching from the sidelines.
She is still in awe at the United Kingdom’s culture, with their love for booze and respect among the things that caught her eye.
She says there is a huge gap in club basketball culture between the two countries, as the club circuit in the UK is ultra-competitive.
Online Reporter