The biggest prize of them all

As the Gems and their coach Ledwin Dondo walked onto the podium to collect the Team of the Year prize at last week’s Annual National Sports Awards, Zimbabwe Netball president Letitia Chipandu described it as their “best success to date”.
This is saying lot seeing as the netball side conquered Africa in 2015.
The senior netball team was named the 2015 Sports Team of the Year, while Dondo walked away with the Coach of the Year gong.
This was their due reward for winning a maiden African Championship title.
“It has been wonderful year, great year indeed,” chimed in a visibly excited Perpetual Siyachitema, a first team player. “We were all shocked. We all thought the Mighty Warriors would win it and for judges to give it us means a lot.
Their mentor, 65-year-old Dondo, could not hide her glee.
“Simply being nominated was a success all on its own, but now I can safely say that this is one of the best days of my life.
“I never dreamt the day would come when we would be African champions, let alone be named as the team of the year.“I did have dreams of success, and did manage to attain it during my days coaching St Mary’s netball team.
“We never lost a single match for a decade, from 1989-1999, but the things we have managed to attain this year surpass anything i might have done before it.
“Above everything else, I want to thank the Almighty God; he has taken netball and me this far. The secret to success lies in believing in God; put all your trust in Him and then work hard,” Dondo said.
And Zina president Chipandu hailed The Sunday Mail Sport as “the best paper when covering netball in the country”.
“I would receive lot of calls from other papers, but The Sunday Mail would publish the stories first. These other papers would simply be following up on any story that The Sunday Mail would have carried.
“I am truly grateful,” she said. “This has been the most successful year not only for the senior national team but for all national teams. So I am excited that there is so much development in netball in the country at different levels. The momentum is up and we are not going back.”
The Gems are ranked 20th in the world, their highest point to date.
Zimbabwe Netball
Tatenda Dviva, Felistas Kwangwa, Yvonne Madzikangava, Ndaizivei Madzikangava, Perpetual Siyachitema, Paidamoyo Tinoza, Pauline Jani, Beaulla Hlongwane, Alice Tewera, Netsai Muchemwa, Tafadzwa Mawango, Edzai Nkosana