Felistus Kangwa – Uplifting the Spirits of the Girl Child in Zimbabwe

Felistus Kangwa

 By   Lovemore Dube  19/11/2022

MANY athletes labour to attain legendary status through long careers on the court, pitch and track but netballer Felistus Kangwa finds herself among the game’s immortals.

She plays professional netball for Surrey in the UK Vitality Netball Super League.

At 27, she is already regarded as Zimbabwe’s best ever player and finest export following a move to the UK in 2020.

Her achievements to date have done a lot for the Gender and lifted what appeared an obscure sport to national recognition.

Until recently, netball was a sport just played at school and seemingly patronised by idle mine or township women.

But Kangwa and her gang, have breathed in new life and given the Girl Child reason to smile as the stock of the sport has risen with corporate support having set in as shown by the Spar Retail Group that has partnered with the Zimbabwe Olympic Committee to ensure Zimbabwe qualifies for the 2024 Olympic Games to be hosted by France.

The 9 March 1995 born goal defender started off at Connie Bhuka’s Free Stars of Emakhandeni, Bulawayo, one of the city’s unsung leading netball development initiatives.

Standing at 1.73m, she does not pass for the ordinary goal defender who is tall and physical, Kangwa is athletic, anticipates well as she reads the game well.

Years of consistent performances earned her a move and a job at Bulawayo Correctional Services side, Khami.

At 16, she earned her first call up to the Bulawayo Province team for the National Youth Games held in Gwanda.

She thanks her teachers who dissuaded her from athletics at Sikhulile Secondary School who felt her height and physique would suit netball.

She had been an athlete since her primary school days at Mtshede in Njube suburb, a township in Bulawayo known to have produced footballers Rahman, Nkosana and Norman Gumbo, Arum Tshuma and Majuta Mpofu.

The outstanding Kangwa was made national team deputy captain in 2015.

She was part of the Gems team that finished third to claim bronze in the African Championships held in Uganda in 2019.

But her best was to come later that year, when she participated in the World Cup in Liverpool.

As Zimbabwe captured the world’s imagination with a top eight finish, Kangwa had done well to lead in the tournament’s deflections and sixth overall in interceptions.

Zimbabwe won the Team of the Tournament award.

Unknown to Kangwa she had done enough to impress for a professional contract.

The 2019 Telkom Challenge in South Africa Player of the Tournament, had impressed Mikki Austin, the Surrey coach.

She was signed and has been there since 2020 and in September 2022 she earned a contract extension after outstanding performances.

She is among two other foreigners Leah Middleton of Australia and Northern Ireland’s Niamh.

Debra Rendo of seven time national champions Railstars described Kangwa as a hard working and much disciplined star.

“A great player who emerged when we were retiring, she deserves all she has achieved. She has been a great ambassador for netball and Girl Child,” said Rendo.

Perpetua Siyachitema-Nyoni said: “I was happy to relinquish the Gems captaincy to her, she has been a great player and team leader. She is focused and will go far.”