ZIMBABWE Netball Gems captain Felisitus Kwangwa put in a near flawless player of the match performance in the heart of Surrey Storm defence on Sunday to help her team to a 39-35 victory over Wasps in their final game of the season.
Kwangwa, who joined Surrey Storm in 2020, made history by becoming the first player from Zimbabwe to play in the Vitality Netball Superleague in England. She made two intercepts, four deflections, and six turnovers to be dully named player of the match in only their third victory of the campaign.
Her stellar performance reflects how far the goal defence player has come in her debut season, in which she played cameo roles off the bench as she adjusted to the way her team plays.
But in her final match of the season, she was given the nod to start and made a big statement for the 2016 champions that she is the missing cog If the trophy is to come back to South East England.
In a closely contested match, Storm went to the halftime break leading 22-17.
Storm controlled much of the second half, maintaining their five-point advantage, which was stretched to six at full time, thanks to the defensive work of Kwangwa and Niamh Cooper.
The Zimbabwean netball star dedicated her victory to Goal Shooter Karyn Bailey, who called time on her career and in memory of former Storm team manager Tom Reseigh who dedicated so much of his life to netball and Stand Up To Cancer.
Speaking to the media after receiving her well-deserved player of the match medal, Kwangwa was happy that her performance culminated into a win for Storm.
“It really means a lot (win). It is my first time here, and this season has been very tough for us, but as a team, we just started to focus on rebuilding because that’s part of the game, you win some, and you lose some.” Kwangwa said.
“We are now hoping that we are going to do well next season, so I’m just glad that our structures that we have been working on the whole season managed to play out well today. I’m really happy, thanks to Storm for a great performance tonight (last night).”
In the interview, she also gave the slightest hint that her player of the Match performance might have been enough to seal another season with Storm as her season contract expired yesterday.
“Honestly, it has been tough concentrating on the style of play and everything, so I have been trying very hard to adjust to the new type of play, and I’m just glad I managed to fit in, though it was a bit too late but good for the next season as well, ” she added.
The steely defender has made tremendous progress both on and off the field in England. Kwanga is one of the 19 brand ambassadors of Gilbert Netball during the season.
Vitality Netball Superleague contracts are generally for one season. Kwangwa’s agent Step Out 7 managing director, Michelle Welch, speaking to EnterSportNews, paid tribute to how her player modified her game to suit the Storm’s type of play and the player of the match award being the icing on the cake.
“We are extremely proud of Felisitus. She has worked hard to adapt to a different style of play, and her hard work has come to fruition in this outstanding performance. And the last game of the season. We hope that she will be re-signed for another year after that performance,” Welch told EnterSportNews.
Teams
Storm Starting 7
Leah Middleton GK
Felisitus Kwangwa GD
Niamh Cooper WD
Mikki Austin C
Yasmin Parsons WA
Emma Magee GA
Karyn Bailey GS
Wasps Starting 7
Rachel Dunn GS
Katie Harris GA
Leah Goss WA
Amy Flanagan C
Lily-May Catling WD
Fran Williams GD
Josie Huckle GK
