THE community-driven passion of the Nyati Queens netball team shone brightly at the inaugural PinkOctober Netball Tournament held in Chitungwiza over the weekend.
As a social club team from the small town of Shamva, the Nyati Queens demonstrated their readiness to compete at the Premier Netball League (PNL) level, much to the delight of local supporters.
Themed “Together We Can Make a Difference,” the tournament aimed to raise awareness about cancer, with a particular focus on breast cancer. Organised by the PNL and Chitungwiza Municipality, and sponsored by Nedbank Zimbabwe, the event brought together over 20 teams from various backgrounds, including professional players, social clubs, and corporate entities.
Nyati Queens Captain, Miriam Kamedzera, expressed the team’s enthusiasm to play in the Premier League.
“We are very much keen to play in the Premier league because we would like to be exposed to the opportunities that come with playing at that level as well as travelling,” Kamedzera explained.
The Nyati Queens’ journey to the PinkOctober Netball Tournament is a testament to the power of community-driven passion and the desire to be in the PNL.
As a social league club, the team has had to overcome the challenge of travelling 100km to compete in the tournament, yet their dedication and passion have been unwavering.
Alice Mukunura, PNL Secretary-General, commended Nyati Queens for making the long journey from Shamva to participate in the tournament.
“I’m happy to mention that we also have a team coming all the way from Shamva, Nyati Queens,” SAID Mukunura.
She also praised the event’s sponsors, particularly Nedbank Zimbabwe, for their support, not only in the PNL but also in this noble cause.
“Nedbank has been sponsoring Premier Netball League and they’ve gone out of their way as well to come in and sponsor this noble cause. And we are happy that they are giving us unwavering support,” Mukunura added.
The PinkOctober Netball Tournament was also supported by various pharmaceutical companies and the Family Planning Council, who provided free cancer screenings and family planning methods to the attendees.
Innocent Hove, the Provincial Medical Director for Harare Metropolitan, emphasised the importance of this initiative in raising awareness about breast cancer and other forms of the disease.
“We know that we are targeting breast cancer, yes, but also other cancers as well that continue to besiege our population,” said the Medical Doctor.
Nyati Queens’ journey has become a shining example of the power of community-driven sports and the ongoing battle against cancer in Zimbabwe.
