admin
Veronica Gwaze-Sports Reporter
PINKOCTOBER Volleyball Tournament Best Receiver Hazel Sanyika has set sights on scooping the Harare and national league championships, come season end.
Walking away champions at the tournament at Mkushi Courts last weekend, Harare City stamped authority as a dominant force for seasons.
They were also the biggest winners, scooping virtually all the individual awards.
After Captain Nyengeterai Guyo emerged as the tourney’s Best Attacker while Maud Karadzandima was crowned Top Blocker.
Racheal Muvirimi was named the Best Setter and Most Valuable Player while their Head Coach Lead-me Muhlohla was recognised as the Coach of the Tournament.
Falcon Manyame’s Tsungiriro Shumba then went on to bag the Best Server accolade.
Propelling Harare City to gold at the tournament, Sanyika who is the team’s Libero feels that with their competitive spirit, they can win the championship.
“It was a tough last round of the tournament, playing against the University of Zimbabwe has never been easy but I am happy we did it anyway,” she said.
“Every time we clash, each side comes with a score to settle so it is always that one fixture that motivates us to train harder.
“It is a Harare Derby and no one wants to lose so it means extra training hours whenever we are going to play them.”
Nicknamed “Kadiki” for her small stature, Sanyika was in fine form to remind Volleyball enthusiasts of her powerful burst onto topflight in 2016.
Hers was a peculiar tale of a young girl who was spotted while playing boozer games in Highfield.
Making her Harare Volleyball League debut under the Zimbabwe Republic Police outfit Support Unit, many started questioning her identity while clubs scrambled for her signature. She instantly became a hit as arguably the league’s youngest player.
Her character was also amazing-quiet and calm, yet tenacious on the court.
“When they spotted me at social games, I was also the youngest there amongst retired players who just played for fun and fitness,” she said.
“I just enjoyed playing but never imagined going professional one day.
“So when the Support Unit coaches gave me an offer, it was a huge surprise.
“I took the offer but deep down, I doubted myself and wondered if I would make it amongst the senior experienced players.”
Interestingly, in a few months, she had charmed many before she was snapped by Manyame Falcons.
In 2019, she was signed by a then financially oiled Harare City to play an influential role in their rise as a local power-house.
“My vision about the sport was that it is only kids from the other side of town (western suburbs) who could take it professionally,” she added.
“So at first, I doubted myself based on where I come from and the fact that I was an amateur.
“To my surprise, it somehow happened naturally for me. It was an amazing experience in the first days and my coaches were pleased with what I was doing.
“That motivated me to work harder and I am happy with how the journey has unfolded.”
The libero notes that Volleyball has become a source of livelihood for her and a platform to unwind.
She feels that she still has a long way to go with the sport, hence she continues to work hard.
“I now have several individual accolades which is something I never imagined,” she said.
“I believe that with discipline, the game can take me places so I aim to work harder as an individual and also to add value to the team.”
Online Reporter