Hanyanya talks about her netball journey

• By Michael Uugwanga   

THOSE who have been following the netball career path of Loide’ Kanona’ Hanyanya will tell you just how good she has been over the years, and it was no surprise to see her awarded the best goal-defender award at the recently held Africa Netball Championship in Gaborone, Botswana.

Hanyanya might be more popular than other netball players, both on the local scene at the club and international levels for the Desert Jewels. However, her performance at both club and international levels is noticeable.

Born 25 years ago at Ohakadu-Onheleiwa, in the Ohangwena Region, Hanyanya has taken Netball by storm and no wonder she continues to be a regular starter for the national team and is a star performer at the Africa Netball Championship after helping Namibia finish second behind winners Zambia in extra-time when the country lost 57-55.

She currently plays club netball for Tigers in the MTC/Namibia Netball Premier League (NNPL), although the club that gave her a breakthrough in the sport was Black Africa Netball Club.

She said the award resulted from hard work, not only from her but from the rest of the team, including the coaching staff.

“I started playing Netball when I was 13 years old.

I was fortunate to have met my coach, Mr Du Doit, at Windhoek Technical High School. He taught me everything and believed that I could go far with Netball, and that’s when I realized my passion.

I started with Black Africa Netball Club when I was in grade 11. At school, I also did athletics, in 100m and 200m, as well as long jump and high jump. However, my passion for Netball outweighed the other sports codes.

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