A Beitbridge student has shown sport can take anyone to any level after netting 11 points at “A” Level at a school where she was admitted with only four “O” Level subjects and her prowess in sport.

Or, could it all be in the name, Kirsty, that she shares with Zimbabwe’s swimming sensation and Olympic Gold Medallist Kirsty Coventry, who is now the country’s sports minister?

This is Kirsty Chauke’s story of how she left Beitbridge’s St Mary’s Secondary School with only four Ordinary Level subjects when she was admitted at Filchrist Boarding School in Shamva after they spotted her talent.

A rural girlfriend, Tshapfuche in Beitbridge, Chauke, a centre (C) position in Netball, where she is also a wing attacker, is a real lioness.

Not to be outdone by failure to attain all five “O” Level subjects at once, Chauke kept her eyes open and on the ball, and the book.

Then she supplemented her ”O” Levels and still kept shining on the field of play.

“Congratulations to Beitbridge Borders Stars Netball player, who qualified for Netball Bursary in year 2022, Kirsty Chauke, from Chapfuche for attaining 11 points in her ‘A’ Level ZimSec Arts Subjects Examinations. She joined Form V at Filchrist Boarding Shamva in 2022 Bridging class, where she only had four subjects from St Mary’s High School, , and short of just Mathematics,” her mentor and team director at Beitbridge, Melody Mabonga, said.

“Her dream is to pursue a Bachelor of Science in Social Work at a local University,” said Mabonga, a Beitbridge Veterinary Worker, who has taken Beitbridge netball to greater heights with a team in the national league.

Mabonga has sought bursaries for girl children, who are outstanding in their sport, while doing her part in putting Beitbridge on the netball map.

Beitbridge residents took turns to congratulate Chauke. News of her achievement opened Beitbridge’s netball season on a high note.