The Sunday Mail
Veronica Gwaze
FOR a young girl who was so shy about her height that she often sought comfort in hiding at the netball courts, Young Gems star Thandazile Ndlovu has seen her life take a remarkable turnaround due to the sport.
Playing netball guaranteed her a place where her peers would not poke fun at her height. Ndhlovu, who is 1,86 metres tall, plays for the Chisumbanje-based Premier Netball League side, Green Fuels.
She did not imagine that netball would eventually become her source of living at the time she started playing the game.
Ndlovu has even attracted the interest of senior national team selectors and is currently in camp with the Gems squad that is preparing for the Diamond Challenge tournament in South Africa.
The Diamond Challenge tourney is scheduled to run between November 22 and 26 at the Rembrandt Hall at the University of Pretoria Sports Centre.
Scotland, Zimbabwe, South Africa President’s XII and favourites South Africa Proteas will battle it out for honours.
The South Africa President’s XII, a select side, were included following the late withdrawal by Southern African giants Malawi.
While Ndlovu came in as a developmental player, she is also preparing for the African Union Sports Council Region 5 games to be held in Malawi in December.
Interestingly, it was also in Malawi that she made her international debut earlier in June, with the Young Gems at the Confederation of Southern African Netball Associations games.
At the tournament, Ndlovu left a mark as the Shooter of the Tournament, as coach Simbarashe Mlambo led his charges to gold.
“I got into netball voluntarily, based on my height but never imagined myself to be this far someday.
“I believe that this is just the beginning of something big for me,” Ndlovu said.
The former Mawabeni Secondary School star acknowledges that her love for netball was further developed during her stint at Sobukazi High School, where she had been awarded an Advanced Level scholarship because of the sport.
To perfect her art, she would also attend training sessions with her sister Silothando, who played for the Bulawayo-based side, Gold Reef.
Despite celebrating her success so far, Ndlovu is still undecided as a part of her heart wants her to pursue a career as a flight attendant.
“I wish to enrol for air school. I want to be an air hostess but I am afraid it may distract my netball,” she said.
“Sports Science is also on my list, so I don’t know how I am going to balance all that. My heart is everywhere and giving up any of it is not an option,” she said.
Nonetheless, Ndlovu is trying to make the most of her time with the Gems and marvels at the chance of rubbing shoulders with the country’s big names and having to learn from them daily.
“Camp is tough and as a young player, sometimes you get to limit yourself.
“This is a rare opportunity that any player dreams of; getting a chance to learn from the best players in the country is something I never dreamt of.
“I take this to be my only opportunity and have to make the best out of it because next time is never guaranteed although I am striving to make it to the World Cup next year,” she said.
Gems assistant coach Tatenda Shinya has since backed Ndlovu to become one of the best shooters in the country.
“Her talent is phenomenal. She has the height, grit, zeal and discipline. She is poised for greater heights,’’ Shinya said.
