Matura makes waves
CONSIDERING all the accolades collected by Tafadzwa Matura during her netball career so far, its quite funny to learn that she actually hated the sport as a kid.
Now Matura spends some of her spare time reminiscing about the coaches that pushed her and all the pep talks she received. At some point, she was even punished for missing training sessions.
The 29-year-old Masvingo-born Falcon Queen recently made headlines when she broke the golden hand record with 19 recognitions from the 26 games played so far.
On her way to that record, she made 668 shots. “I hated netball as a kid. I loved athletics, especially the short distance races. l also enjoyed playing volleyball. My life revolved around those two sporting disciplines.
“In my sleep, I would dream of volleyball. However, my elder brother was a netball coach at Gawa Primary School in Bikita. He took a keen interest in my height and forced me onto the netball court.
“At first I resisted, I did not want to be a netballer, I actually hated it but he was determined and would sometimes punish me for missing practice, which eventually left me with no choice,” she recalled.
Like most naturals, Matura soon began to stand out, largely due to her speed and quick grasp of the sport.
The rest is history.
In a few weeks of trying her hand at the sport, her height began to pay off as she became her brother’s first choice shooter on the team. After bagging several accolades during her days at Tamuka Secondary, she got a scholarship to complete her studies at Pamushana Mission School.
In 2012, she joined Harare City Queens, before finding a home at Air Force side, Falcon Queens, the following year.
She later got employed within the Airforce of Zimbabwe, were she currently holds the rank of a Corporal.
At the 2015 Youth games in Hwange, Matura caught the attention of the then Minister of Sports, Makosini Hlongwane.
His remarks to Zimbabwe Netball Association president, Leticia Chipandu, opened doors for her. The following year, she received her first national team call-up.
She made a stylish debut that same year at the Pent series in Namibia.
She was also part of the team that participated at the World Cup qualifiers in Zambia last year, although she did not make it to the finals in Liverpool.
Making waves in the Rainbow Netball Amateur League (RANL), the Goal Attacker looks forward to being this year‘s RANL poster girl.
Falcon Queens head coach Tapiwa Chirenda described Matura as unarguably one of the most unstoppable players under the RANL.
Having spotted her potential during her days at Harare City Netball Club years earlier, the gaffer said his wish from first sight was to have Matura under his mentorship.
“I first spotted her in 2013. I saw some rare potential and my wish was to have her under my wing one day.
“When we finally got together under Falcon Queens, I mentored her and today I am a satisfied man.
“I feel that my efforts are paying off,” said the gaffer.