The ManicaPost
Ray Bande
Senior Reporter
WHAT started as a pastime activity for ladies in Magute Village in St Augustine, Mutare, has turned into a netball powerhouse in Manicaland Region’s Division One.
With the monumental 2019 Vitality World Cup appearance well tucked in the history books of the game of netball in the country, the Covid-19 lockdown restrictions saw the game regressing as most hopeless and yet talented youngsters turned to motherhood.
As soon as Covid-19 measures were relaxed, Santa Queens Netball Club came together and a couple of years later, they have become a formidable force in their league.
The Santa Queens project started in 2021.
The club is currently sitting on pole position in the Manicaland Region Division One Netball League.
Santa Queen team manager, Munyaradzi Phiri said: “During the first lockdown, people were not allowed to travel, hence the increase of drug abuse, child marriages and domestic violence.
“I met the Chiyambutsas, the wife in particular, who is our patron and discussed how we could help the community to reduce the above-mentioned social vices.
“We invited young ladies to gather at St Augustine’s Mission ground to play netball. We created activities for them to do so that they wouldn’t be idle.
“We were happy to achieve our goal when we saw the ladies enthusiastic about participating in netball matches, thereby occupying their time.”
To date, the Santa Queen project is helping out in the fight against gender based violence and child marriages.
“The team aims at creating an atmosphere for ladies to share different experiences about family issues as well as fighting GBV and child marriages. We are also spreading awareness of the dangers of drug and substance abuse,” said Phiri.
Local women are also being empowered economically.
“Projects for ladies such as Fusa and Mukando have also been created.
“On the court, the club intends to create good players who can compete in the National League and even be part of the national team,” said Phiri.
Santa Queens players are mainly drawn from Magute Village and Mutare urban.
“We wish to promote players from Manicaland. We are happy as we look back into the past and see that the main reason for the formation of the team was to occupy the ladies after the Covid-19 era but we have come this far in a short space of time.
“Our sponsors are the Chiwambutsa family, the wife and husband, who are directors of Fr8zone Logistics, a customs clearing company that specialises in the movement of goods between different borders. The sponsorship is of great importance to the club and we are forever grateful,” said Phiri.
The Manicaland Division One Netball League is being played in a bubble format, just as the National League is being done.
Five teams are placed in a bubble and they play each other at a given venue in a move that also reduces the costs.
The next bubble is set for May 20.
