MARONDERA- Despite her team not being part and parcel of a competitive league, a
talented netball player from Marondera feels that the corporate world should chip in
and fund the sport from grassroots level.
That is a passionate plea from Chiedza Chichi Pereya who started playing the game
at a tender age and has seen it all.
Born in Marondera some 38 years ago in a family of five, Chichi currently plays as a
goal-shooter for XO Queens Netball Club which is domiciled in the farming town's
Ward 8.
I had a passion for netball since my childhood and I started playing the sport when I
was doing my primary school education. Unfortunately, I did not pursue the sport as
a professional since I decided to take another career route.
However, I did not abandon the sport altogether as I am still an active netball
player, albeit in the social circles, she said.
Chichi said the regular trips that she makes with her team, XO Queens, have shown
her that Marondera has many talented young netball players who can make it to the
top if they get proper guidance.
She said: We have been to many parts of Marondera and yonder competing with
other teams in friendly matches or cup competitions. I have come to realize that
there is abundant young netball talent out there and with proper guidance and
backed with adequate monetary and material resources, they can be in a position to
compete at the top level.
I am also of the opinion that the technical team which will be given the mandate to
select the provincial netball team that will represent Mashonaland East at this year's
Zimbabwe National Youth Games should cast their net wider and take on board the
best players in the province.
Recently, Mashonaland East Netball Association (MENA) officials told this publication
that the sport code is thriving in the province.
The provincial is made up teams that include Hustlers, Siskdale, Juru, Sporting
Sharks, Mutondo, Makaha and Kotwa.
There are also district leagues running in Mudzi, Murewa, Wedza, Chikomba,
Mutoko and Goromonzi.
Marondera Queens and Blue Angels are playing in countrys Premier League.
Sponsorship challenges resulted in the implementation of bubbles format to cut
down on travelling expenses.
