Zimpapers Logo

Shingai Dhlamini

AS we celebrate the International Women’s Month, today we feature one of the country’s best female netball talents of the last decade, Perpetua Siyachitema.

The May 15, 1983, born Zimbabwean, is a former national netball player who captained the Zimbabwe national team.

She is now riding high as a coach where she has won three consecutive Coach of the Year gongs as trainer of champions Glow Petroleum.

She played for Zimbabwe for 15 years and retired from active playing after the 2019 Netball World Cup. At the time of her retirement she was 36 and she pursued coaching. 

Siyachitema started playing netball at the age of 16 and made her international debut for Zimbabwe at the age of 19. She was a regular member of the Zimbabwe national team for close to 15 years since her debut and led the side as captain from 2011.

Under her captaincy, Zimbabwe qualified to participate at the 2019 Netball World Cup in Liverpool along with fellow African team Uganda and they finished on position eight. 

This was the first occasion where Zimbabwe secured a spot at a Netball World Cup tournament.

Siyachitema coaches a Kwekwe based netball team, Glow Petroleum Queens.

“In 2020 we were affected by Covid-19 as there were no sporting activities, 2021 I won the championship with Glow Petroleum Queens and I was crowned 2022 Coach of the Year. In 2023 we won the championship and I was Coach of the Year that made it three consecutive years,” said Siyachitema.

At the 2019 Netball World Cup, Zimbabwe started the tournament on a winning note defeating Sri Lanka and finished the tournament on eighth position overall. 

Following the remarkable feat, Siyachitema bid farewell to her netball career after playing for nearly 20 years.

“In 2023 I was called to be a netball analyst and to do commentary by SuperSport,” said Siyachitema.

Siyachitema is an iconic figure who maintained a strong head on her shoulders in the world of sports and retired to be a coach.

She enjoys sharing her experiences in netball with other women in Zimbabwe.

She acknowledges that being a woman in sport comes with its challenges but with the right support system and attitude one can equally succeed and build a career worth to be recognised. 

 “Being a woman in sport is a bit difficult, trying to balance being a family woman and your career, but if you are determined, focused and know what you really want to do anything and everything becomes possible. I encourage other women to take their sporting careers seriously,” said Siyachitema.