The Sunday Mail
Deputy Sports Editor
GEOGRAPHICALLY, Zimbabwe expatriate Melisa Mwanza doesn’t have to look too far for inspiration insofar as her Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) aspirations are concerned.
Located just a 33-minute drive away from her Putman Science Academy is the University of Connecticut, the home of the Uconn Huskies. A four-time NCAA champion, and ranked sixth on the College circuit, the Huskies have churned out many NBA stars, with the most prominent being Boston Celtics’ Kemba Walker and two-time NBA champion Ray Allen.
However, Mwanza neither looks left nor right for inspiration, but rather up.
Now, more than ever, the 17-year-old is eager to succeed, in part for herself and also for her late grandfather Cleopas Mwanza.
“I lost my grandfather in December,” said the former Girls’ High School learner.
“He was my guardian, my father, my mentor and I wish he was there to see how good I am becoming.
“I will fulfil his wish by becoming a star in his honour,” she said.
Mwanza has barely been in the United States of America for seven months, and while it hasn’t been an ideal start, she has made the best of her sad and somewhat tragic predicament.
Her journey to the US was a pleasant ride.
“My journey from Zimbabwe to USA was a pleasant one.
“We came via Addis Ababa, and when I came here (US), it was during the peak period of Covid-19 infections.
“We had to practice social distancing, of which the plane wasn’t full as we had one passenger per every two seats.
“We all wore masks and sanitised regularly,” she said of her travels.
Sadly, her schooling, and to some extent basketball experience hasn’t been as pleasant.
“We haven’t experienced any Covid-19 infections at school, and I guess it’s because of the strict precautions that we have to follow.
“Everyone goes to class, and I am taking SAT Prep, Spanish 1, Geometry & Visual Expressions. In as far as my basketball is concerned, we didn’t have any games last semester due to the Covid-19 situation, but we kept practicing every day. “We came back this semester and our coaches told us that we would have a few more games.
“The protocols, when it comes to games and training, is that one wears a mask at all times.
“When we have games, every four minutes, we get a mask break,” she said.
Given her age, Mwanza has found the multi-cultural nature of her new environment partly unnerving and sometimes surreal.
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Still, she remains focused on the ultimate goal, which is to take her basketball skills as far as possible.
“Putnam Science Academy is very multi-cultural and so every day is an opportunity to learn.
“I am learning a lot of things from different people, who come from different backgrounds, and that has been my biggest takeaway as the big difference between the US and home.
“My goal remains to play professional basketball as soon as possible.
“I have the height, stamina and confidence.
“I believe that I will make it,’’ Mwanza said.
She recently travelled to Pennsylvania for a tournament, where Putman Science Academy finished second in a campaign she also managed to earn a Most Valuable Player award.
