The Sunday Mail
Veronica Gwaze
At 29, Glow Petroleum’s Unkemetsi “Unke” Mabuku still dreams of donning the national team colours.
Time is no longer on her side as she fast approaches the dreaded 30-year mark.
But to her, age is just a number while netball is in here DNA.
Even at 40, she will still dream of a national debut, should it take that long.
The former Shooting Stars goal attacker had to be persuaded by her mother Nalee — a former netball coach — to join the sport during her days at Makwika Primary School.
“I started playing netball when I was still at Makwika Primary. My mother, who was a coach at that time, talked me out of basketball. Back then, I didn’t really like netball. Taking me through the basics was tough for both of us. There were times when I would forget simple drills. l would even incorporate some basketball moves into netball.
“It was very frustrating.
“But after completing my Ordinary Level studies, l joined Shooting Stars, under my mother’s mentorship.
“It was a village team and I played for them for two years (2007-2008). During that time, my passion for the game grew.
“Now netball is my life and the Gems are my dream,” narrated the lethal shooter.
At 22, Unke joined Hwange Colliery, were she played for four years.
Ironically, Gems renowned goal shooter Pauline Jani also played for the team on her way to stardom.
In 2015, Unke found a home at her current club — Glow Petroleum Netball Queens.
The mother of two is also a Glow Petroleum employee.
She balances her busy schedule well.
Glow Petroleum head coach and former Gems captain Pepetua Siyachitema, who hung up her boots after last year’s Netball World Cup, feels Mabuku could be the Gems’ next big player.
Siyachitema identified Mabuku during her days at Hwange Colliery and feels that she has what it takes to feature in the national squad.
“Mabuku is now ripe for national duty.
“She has the movement, the shots, the stamina and the aggressiveness that make up a true Gem.
“If she gets a chance, I am very confident that she will put up a fine show,” Siyachitema said. She described Mabuku as a disciplined player with an unpararelled work ethic.
“She doesn’t do it for people, but just plays her heart out every game.
“Last year she went on maternity leave and worked herself back into form.
“A national team call-up is now my dream for her,” said Siyachitema.
lndeed, Mabuku has what it takes and there is ample room for new players in the Gems’ squad.
After ZDF Queen and former Harare City star Mercy Mukwadi was dropped from the Gems squad, not to mention that Ursula Ndlovu is currently |clubless”, there is room for new faces.
Everything seems to be pointing to an Unke call-up sooner rather than later.
It is just a matter of time.
