Big Interview: Towera Vinkhumbo, the dazzling Queen
She is a prolific professional who comes from a sporting family with her sister and brother holding professional records. This dazzling woman plays outstanding netball and women’s football nationally and at club levels. She is always in the first seven of the netball national team and first 11 for football, translating into her undisputable reliability and show of real talent. Caroline Somanje spoke to this sportswoman who is contributing to the success of the national netball team, The Queens.
——————————————————————————————-
Q. Tell me about yourself.
A. My name is Towera vinkhumbo, I am 23 years old, born in a family of 11 children (six girls and five boys). I am the ninth born and a Christian. I am not married, but engaged to Edwin Baiaxy Nyirenda. Currently, I am studying Human Resource Management (HRM) at PACT College and I hold a diploma level six in HRM.
Q. What sort of upbringing did you have?
- My late brother Aubrey Des Walker Vinkhumbo played for Mighty Wanderers. He was very influential to me, growing up with him. He nurtured my sporting talent as he used to advise and encourage me to work hard. My parents encouraged me to work hard in my studies. I also used to go to Blantyre Youth Centre (BYC) to watch my sister, Lucy Zuma Vinkhumbo, another family influence who by then was playing in Admarc Tigresses youth and Yellow Sisters.
Q. How did you find yourself in netball and football?
Before I ventured into netball, I was playing football. Then, I started training for netball because football took too long to resume from off season and there was not much support for women footballers. When I started playing netball, I didn’t find it hard because I was already fit physically because of football training. To equip me fully for netball, our coach then, Griffin Saenda, helped me with coordination, defending, different types of skills in defending and attacking; endurance and most of all, discipline.
Q. What sort of training did you have in both sports?
A. In football, I owe it to Patrick Kulemeka and Sylus Liwindo who taught me everything a football player does on the pitch such as dribbling, chest control, heading, just to mention a few. For netball, I already attributed it to Saenda.
Q. What drives you?
A. Hard working and team spirit.
Q. How do you juggle between the two sports?
- Since my joining netball was in a way accidental for lack of sponsors in women football, I left football for good and I concentrated on netball, at least that’s what I thought, more so after being included in the netball national team. After some time though, the women’s football club started engaging me to help out when they had crucial games. I used to help without any training but, for me it was an honour to be representing my country. Later, I was chosen the top goal scorer of Donna’s Eggs Cup. Thereafter, the impressive mark I made on women’s football fraternity earned my place in the game once again and so I begun playing. Since then, I manage both very well and there is no collision.
Q. Which of the two sports would you call your life and why?
- I would call both sports disciplines my life because I cannot say no to either whenever duty calls to serve my country. I, however, rate netball highly because it is what I eat, sleep and dream. It is my blood.
Q. How do you keep fit to compete effectively?
A. I don’t have free time because I train during the season and off season. That is why I compete effectively. When I am not at netball activities, people are sure to find me at football activities. I don’t wait for the coach to tell me what to do as I always train myself even when coaches are not there.
Q. What have been your challenges?
A. The main challenge now is that sometimes, we don’t train as a team because we lack sponsorship. It becomes difficult for us to find transport to report for training sessions. It has been four years now since our club has been surviving without sponsors.
Q. What are your most memorable moments?
A. The most memorable times is when our team (Escom Sisters then) was unbeatable from 2008-2012. And in football, I enjoy playing with my sisters in different clubs as opponents. Lucy was playing in Super Queens Club, I was with Salomey and my late sister Tamara Vinkhumbo played in the same club-Mbawala Bush Bucks.
Q. What’s your comment on sports in this country?
A. In this country, we have a number of different sports disciplines, which need to be treated equally and accordingly and we appreciate efforts government puts in sports, but my main emphasis is on netball. If we take a good look at netball in Africa, Malawi is number one and we don’t need to lose that position, bearing in mind that our rivals, the South African team, doesn’t sleep thinking of how they can end the superiority of the Malawi National Netball Team in Africa. We need to find a way to maintain this dominance and how we can break into the top four or three at the world level. This is possible only if we apply what it takes.
Q. What are the chances of women making it in sports?
A. Chances of women making it in sports are not that nourished because most women look at sports as something that cannot go with marriage. Some parents discourage their daughters from participating in sports. We need to help them understand that sports is good in many ways such as emotional and physical health, it is a way of communication and something which can put food on the table.
Q. Given a chance, what would you change in netball and women football?
A. I would first go for coaching and help my fellow women to do better in sports by sharing my knowledge, experiences and encouraging them.
Q. Any last comments?
A. I want to thank God for all the achievements he has showed me because without him, I couldn’t reach this far. I also give respect to the media for a job well-done in its coverage of netball and women football. I should also take the opportunity to thank my parents, brothers, sisters, team mates and fans who have been there for me. I want to invite you all to my wedding on September 27 2014. May the good Lord bless you all!
