Local netball enthusiasts were recently treated to a thrilling display of athleticism and camaraderie as Zimbabwean and South African residents joined together to compete in a friendly netball game.
After witnessing the community spirit in a local football match with Zimbabwean resident’s on 25 May for Africa Day, Octavia Chikukura, captain of the Zimbabwean netball team, told the Compass that the vision for this friendly netball match was inspired and she began orchestrating the event.
After weeks of planning the event with Maretha Harmse, South Africa team captain, and Eve Lunn, the coach for Cayman’s Socialites Netball Club, the game came to fruition on 5 July at the Truman Bodden Sports Complex netball courts.
South Africa ultimately claimed victory with a final score of 28-11, but Chikukura said, despite her team’s loss, “We all celebrated the victory together, proud of what we had accomplished and the exciting day we created.”
Harmse told the Compass,”First off, I just want to say a big thank you to the Cayman Islands Netball Association for making this whole experience possible. Honestly, when I first moved to the island, I never imagined something like this could happen.”
She reflected on the significance of representing her homeland in an island thousands of miles from South Africa.
“Representing my country from so far away was such a powerful feeling – it was emotional, a mix of happiness and a little sadness too,” she said. “What really touched me was seeing everyone who, just like me, made the big move from home – all of us coming together, supporting one another. It reminded me that, no matter where you are in the world, you can always find your people.”
She added that what really stood out to her was how netball has given her a whole new community through this one match, saying that she met some incredible people that she “never would’ve crossed paths with if it wasn’t for netball”.
“At the end of the game, we all stood together singing our national anthems, hands raised – that moment hit me hard,” she said. “It was bittersweet, realising we’re all so far from our families and friends, but also knowing we’ve found a new support system in each other. I’m just so grateful to have these amazing women in my life now,” Harmse said.
The friendly match was not merely a standalone event; it was a catalyst for significant growth within the local netball scene.
The Zimbabwe team is set to form a new club under the Cayman Islands Netball Association, which will be named ZIM-KY.
And players from the South Africa team who competed in the match will be joining the Socialites Netball Club, an existing and well-established club in Cayman.
This addition promises to bring fresh talent and competitive spirit to the association.
Faith Crooks, the Cayman Islands Netball Association president, told the Compass that a key priority during her presidency is to “increase the number of local clubs to ensure the local netball scene remains competitive and continues to elevate”.
More than just a game, this event served as a powerful testament to the unifying spirit of sport and laid the groundwork for exciting developments within the Cayman Islands netball community.
