BY MUNYARADZI MADZOKERE
ZIMBABWE netball team captain Felisitus Kwangwa is dreaming about winning the Vitality Netball Super League title after Surrey Storm opted to renew her contract ahead of the new season.
There was speculation that the club, which struggled in the league last season and finished second from bottom in the 11-team English top tier competition, would not re-sign the Zimbabwean goal defender.
However, the club announced the re-signing of Kwangwa about two weeks ago after being impressed with her individual performances in her maiden season in the England netball topflight league.
“I am so excited to be back with Storm, which is an opportunity that I always appreciate. The target for me is to win the championship this coming season and nothing else,” she said.
Kwangwa became the first Zimbabwean to play in the English Super League after she joined Surrey Storm in October last year.
In spite of the poor showing by the 2015 and 2016 Super League champions, Kwangwa described her first season in England as special.
“Every moment in the Vitality Netball Super league was special for me and every game was special. There was no match, which was easy but every game was big and I feel that I grew as a player because of this experience,” the 26-year-old netball star said.
- Chamisa under fire over US$120K donation
- Mavhunga puts DeMbare into Chibuku quarterfinals
- Pension funds bet on Cabora Bassa oilfields
- Councils defy govt fire tender directive
Keep Reading
Although she was new in the league, Kwangwa exhibited her international experience as she racked up a lot of deflections and interceptions while she picked up a Player Of the Match accolade against the Wasps in the final game of the season.
Surrey Storm beat Wasps 39 – 35 in a low scoring match, which saw the team end a 15-match losing streak and also eke out a third win of the season.
Celtic Dragons finished the season as the bottom team on the log standings with just one win all season long.
Apart from Kwangwa, Surrey Storm re-signed other players such as Grace Sullivan, Australian goalkeeper Leah Middleton, goal attacker Ellie Kelk, goal attacker Frankie Wells, Northern Ireland goal attacker Emma Magee, goalkeeper Alima Priest and mid courters Yasmin Parsons and Niamh Cooper as they rebuild for the upcoming season.
Other top signings include top goal shooter Uganda captain Peace Proscovi and former player Sophia Candappa, who is a three-time super league winner as well as young talent in Sophie Kelly, Chartie Curtis and Abi Robson.
Surrey storm coach Mikki Austin was thrilled to retain the Zimbabwean for the 2022 season.
“We are really pleased to welcome Felisitus back to Surrey Storm. She is an athlete that really grew into her role here last season and relished being part of the VNSL environment. We look forward to welcoming Felisitus back into the fold and having her in duck egg blue,” Austin said.
Kwangwa’s dream is to become the first Zimbabwean to win the English Netball Superleague next season
