Vinkhumbo risks life for Diamonds’ match

Diamonds’ defender Towera Vinkhumbo-Nyirenda made a daring sacrifice on Saturday when she abandoned a sickbed at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital  in Blantyre to play for her team during the OG Issa Southern Region Netball League (SRNL) final.

The Malawi Queens’ defender was diagnosed with plus-two Malaria on the day of the match and was admitted to the hospital, but she defied the doctors’ advice by sneaking out to the College of Medicine (CoM) Sports Complex.

Then, she had just been injected with a dose of Malaria-fighting drug, Quinine.

But, eventually, Vinkhumbo-Nyirenda’s sacrifice bore fruits for both the team and herself. Diamonds beat Complex Tigresses 36-33 to win their first title in five competitions and she emerged as the best defender of the tournament to take home a K15 000 individual prize.

“I did this for the love of my team,” she said. “I could not afford to see it lose a fifth consecutive competition. I am now happy that we have finally achieved success.”

Diamonds’ coach Griffin ‘Zagalo’ Saenda hailed the player for her sacrifice, saying they could not have made it in her absence.

“She is one of our key players; the backbone of the team. What she has done has shown how committed she is to the team. Few players would make such a sacrifice. We thank her so much,” said Saenda, whose side lost the league title to Tigresses last season on inferior basket difference.

However, when asked what could have happened had the netballer’s sacrifice negatively affected her health, Saenda said: “if the player felt alright to play, who were we to restrict her?”