The Sunday Mail
Veronica Gwaze
For many, the old adage “sport is life” is something that they say whimsically, but for Correctional Queens Winger Yvonne Madzikangava, no words can be truer.
Not only was she employed through netball, but she met her soulmate through the sport as well.
Netball is also the essence of the strong bond that exists with her older sister Ndaizivei.
Having tied the knot with husband Zvikomborero Mupesa earlier this month, Madzikangava should be enjoying her honeymoon.
But alas, she yearns for more: She wants the Covid-19 pandemic nightmare to end so that she can return to the court.
“Trust me, I am very excited about getting married as it is every girl’s dream.
“People now address me as Amai Mupesa,” she chuckled.
“However, as a netball player who has been away from the court for some time, I miss playing.
“I cannot wait to go back and do what I know best.”
She owes a lot to the game, as it gave her her first job at Chikurubi Maximum Prison.
In 2018, she met her future husband through the sport.
As the story goes, she was doing a routine delivery at the Registry Office when their parts crossed.
The two shared a brief chat, which later developed into a friendship and then blossomed into love.
However, being a prison officer and netball player meant Madzikangava’s schedule was quite hectic at the time.
“Being a player for a big team, it meant more hours of training and I rarely had time for friends.
“He would always complain about it, and I would invite him to some of our games.
“It worked out in the end, as he gradually fell in love with the sport.
“He became supportive, and when he proposed, it felt right as he understood me and supported my interests,” she said.
Despite giving her a good job and supportive husband, the game has also brought Madzikangava closer to her sister Ndaizivei.
In fact, it was her sister that introduced her to the sport, with the two going so far as to share the court with the Gems.
The older Madzikangava wore the Gems’ Centre bib, while she occupied the wing position.
“I do not have the exact words to describe my sister; I owe her so much, she gave me a life,” said the younger Madzikangava.
“Whether I am home or at work, and I feel low, she has a way of cheering me up.
“Everything just lights up.
“Although I did not make it to the World Cup in 2019, simply watching her play, and knowing she was there, made me feel like I was part of the team.”
Unfortunately, their netball romance did not last.
Yvonne was forced into a two-year sabbatical after injuring her left hand in 2018.
“We were at the Diamond Challenge in Port Elizabeth when I picked the injury.
“It remains the worst moment of my career, as I remember my physiotherapists recommending that I take a long break from the sport.
“I feared the worst,” she said.
It was only last year when she decided to give it another go, but then the Covid-19 pandemic hit.
While for many the pandemic has been a huge downer, for Madzikangava it has been a blessing in disguise.
She has been afforded time to heal, get hitched and return for the 2021 season ready.
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