The Sunday Mail
Veronica Gwaze
SHUDDERING constantly, exchanging shy stares between her team manager and the empty Stodart Hall terraces, Edna Nyamazha is aware of the mammoth task that lies ahead.
At 32, Nyamhazha has made a late debut into the Zimbabwe Netball Gems but the Correctional Queens wing attacker has a big point to prove. The Zimbabwe national netball team plays Namibia in the 2018 Pent Series this afternoon and Nyamhazha will make her maiden appearance in national colours.
Nicknamed “Chi Danger” because of her play, Nyamazha’s task is to prove herself as the Gems defend their Pent Series title in the six-nation tournament in Windhoek.
“As I reflect towards my first game, I am gunning for greater heights together with my new found family (the team) and I mark it as our initial step in an expedition of a thousand miles as we journey towards more and bigger tournaments,” says Nyamhazha.
She grew up in Mutare and attended St Joseph’s Primary School before proceeding to St Joseph’s Secondary School. Upon completing her Ordinary Levels in 2002, she left for the capital city in search of a club to play for.
Her plan was to charm the then Nehanda team so that she could secure a job within the Prisons and Correctional Services as an officer. Fortunately, she landed herself a position as one of the youngest players in the team but failed to secure a job, leading her to move to Grain Marketing Board (GMB), where she played for eight months before retracing her footsteps to her former team.
“Although I played for GMB, my heart was at the Prisons,” said the wing attacker. During her days at the now Correctional Queens team she envied then goal defender Felistas Kwangwa’s play.
“Although she was a defender I loved her play, she was an all-rounder who could cover up for any position that had a crisis. She taught me that netball is all about every player defending, every player attacking,” she remembers.
The new Gem prior to this call, was called for camp three times in a row but ill winds blew her chances away. “First, I was called when the team went for the All-Africa Games but unfortunately I had no passport. When the team went to Uganda I was called again but I could not go because there were pressing issues that could not allow me to.
“Then I was called again in 2013 when the squad went to Malawi, after all was set for the camp I discovered I was pregnant with my second child,” narrated the shy Nyamhazha.
The Gem recalls the day she was called for the fourth time and the ecstasy that gripped her which she described as God’s divine intervention.
The wing attacker said she came to join the squad whole heartedly and fully geared to show case the talent that has been hindered by circumstances.
