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Veronica Gwaze
Sports Reporter
PICKING a late injury which forced her to watch the 2023 Netball World Cup Qualifiers’ from the sidelines would ordinarily have given her a heartbreak.
Rising Gems Shooter, Chipo Shoko, suffered a knee injury in the last minutes of the qualifiers’ camp and had to be ruled out of the prestigious tournament.
The netball star, who also turns out for Platinum Queens, made her senior national team debut at the COSANA Tri-nations in Malawi were she made a colourful first impression.
Earning a second call-up ahead of the qualifiers, Shoko had hoped to script another colourful piece.
Unfortunately, she picked a late injury which left her on the sidelines in Pretoria, South Africa, where she had to watch her mates from the terraces.
However, to Shoko, it is the call-up and camp time that she is more grateful about.
“It is disturbing emotionally to lose out at the last minute, however, for me it is way more than that. I had the chance to be in camp, I learnt a lot and that was the most important thing for me,” she said.
“Camp is rigorous, remember it is the country’s finest talent in one court so there is competition and you get to learn a lot from the tutors and even fellow players which was my biggest takeaway.”
Shoko, one of the key players who have kept Platinum Queens at the top on the elite league, is currently recovering and will soon be back to competitive games.
She recalls going through emotions as she watched her team from afar.
“Being a player it is tough watching your team fall, knowing that there is nothing you can do about it, I went through a roller coast of emotions because we needed to qualify,” she recalls.
“At times I had to shout from the terraces, my heart was on the court and when we grabbed the precious ticket I told myself that the real journey had begun.”
Although she is going through a series of therapy sessions with physiotherapists, Shoko is also doing personal training to make sure she stays in shape.
The former Mnene High School player, whose netball career dates back to her primary school days at Mponjani, Mberengwa, reckons her life revolves around netball.
Her life, she recalls transformed in 2017 when she cracked into professional netball, joining Platinum Queens.
Despite the financial gains, she, however, over the years yearned for a national team call-up.
“Just a chance to be among the great talent is what I needed, you know as a player you introspect so I felt still needed to learn a lot and the only way was being in camp,” she said.
“Making it on the final team would have been great but I could not due to the injury. I had to pick the positives and for me it is the experience in camp.”
What, however, stands for many avid netball followers about Shoko is her character and drive on the court.
Silent, more on the reserved side and yet she turns into a monster when she steps on the court.
In 2018, she was named the best shooter in the RANL pre-season tournament which was held in Bulawayo where her team won gold.
But before that she was also named the 2017 best shooter at the Platinum Queens end of year awards ceremony.
She also enjoyed a decent 2019 season, managing to get a number of player of the match awards.
Shoko is one player who quietly goes about her work week-in, week-out.
She may not earn rave reviews for her stunning rebound takes, or her effortless shooting, but she is a vital member of the Gems and Platinum’s attackers who do the dirty work to earn victories.
This attitude, mixed with her ability on the ball (shooting and rebound taking), makes her an outstanding netballer.
“I believe there is a time for everyone, my aim is to be one of the best which is the driving force behind my work ethic,” said Shoko.
“Netball is life for me, my life transformed so much because of the game and wearing the national team kit is a chance to live my dream.
“My sight is already at the World Cup, I am doing my best to make sure I make it because this is life for me.”
Gems assistant coach, Tatenda Shinya, notes that Shoko is a star in the making.
“She is a disciplined player who also has a lot of potential and if she maintains the consistency I am sure she will be a great name,” said the coach.
“She is calm, plays a smart game and can silently make life tough for the opponents . . . . “Shoko has the height and like the other young blood, they need more international exposure as we prepare for the World Cup.”
Online Reporter