Towera Vinkhumbo

Last updated

Towera Vinkhumbo
Personal information
Full nameTowera Angela Nyirenda [1] (née Vinkhumbo)
Born (1991-02-14) 14 February 1991 (age 33) [2] [3]
Blantyre, Malawi
Height 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in) [2] [3]
Netball career
Playing position(s): GD, GK
YearsClub team(s)Apps
2008–2012 Escom Sisters
2012–2020 → Kukoma Diamonds
2019– Severn Stars
YearsNational team(s)Caps
2010– Malawi
Medal record
Representing Flag of Malawi.svg  Malawi
Fast5 World Series
Bronze medal icon (B initial).svg 2016 Melbourne Team

Towera Vinkhumbo (born 14 February 1991), also referred to as Towera Vinkhumbo-Nyirenda or Towera Nyirenda, is a Malawi netball international and a Malawi women's football international. As a netball player she represented Malawi at the 2010, 2014 and 2018 Commonwealth Games and at the 2011, 2015 and 2019 Netball World Cups. Vinkhumbo was also a member of the Malawi team that finished third at the 2016 Fast5 Netball World Series. At club level, Vinkhumbo plays for Strathclyde Sirens in the Netball Superleague. In July 2019, the same month she played for Malawi in the 2019 Netball World Cup, she also represented Malawi at the 2019 COSAFA Women's Football Championship. She also played for Malawi in 2020 Summer Olympic football qualifiers.

Contents

Early life and family

Vinkhumbo was born in Chitawira Private Hospital in Blantyre. She is the ninth-born of eleven children–six girls and five boys, three of whom died. Vinkhumbo began playing both netball and association football when she was in primary school. [4] [5] [6] [7] Several of her siblings also played both sports at a senior level. Her older brother, Aubrey Vinkhumbo, played football as a defender for Mighty Wanderers. [4] [6] [8] Her sister, Salome Vinkhumbo, is also a Malawi women's football international and captained the team at the 2018 COSAFA Women's Championship. [6] [7] [9] [10]

Netball

Club level

Escom Sisters/Kukoma Diamonds

In Malawi, Vinkhumbo played for Escom Sisters. She continued to play for the team when they were renamed Kukoma Diamonds. Two of her sisters, Lucy Vinkhumbo and Salome Vinkhumbo also played for the same team. [7] [5] [9] [10] [11] [12]

Severn Stars

Vinkhumbo signed for Severn Stars of the Netball Superleague ahead of the 2020 season. [12] [13] [14] [15] [16]

Malawi

Vinkhumbo represented Malawi at the 2010, 2014 and 2018 Commonwealth Games and at the 2011, 2015 and 2019 Netball World Cups. [3] [14] [15] At the 2018 Commonwealth Games she helped Malawi defeat New Zealand 57–53. Vinkhumbo was also a member of the Malawi team that finished third at the 2016 Fast5 Netball World Series. [7] [8]

TournamentsPlace
2009 Netball World Youth Cup [1] 5th
2010 World Netball Series  ?5th
2010 Commonwealth Games [14] [15] 5th
2011 World Netball Championships [3] [17] 6th
2012 Diamond Challenge [18] [19] [20] 2nd
2012 Fast5 Netball World Series [21] 5th
2013 African Netball Championship [22] 2nd
2013 Taini Jamison Trophy Series [23] [24] 2nd
2013 Fast5 Netball World Series [25] 5th
2014 Commonwealth Games [26] 5th
2014 Fast5 Netball World Series  ?6th
2015 Netball World Cup [3] [27] [28] [29] 6th
2016 Fast5 Netball World Series [30] Bronze medal icon.svg
2018 Taini Jamison Trophy Series [31] [32] 3rd
2018 Commonwealth Games [2] [33] [34] 7th
2018 Fast5 Netball World Series [35] 4th
2019 Netball World Cup [3] [36] [37] 6th
2019 Africa Netball Cup [38] [39] [40]
2023 Fast5 Netball World Series [41] 6th

Football

Towera Vinkhumbo
Personal information
Position(s) Defender
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
Mbawala Bush Bucks
Blantyre Zero
International career
2004– Malawi
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Club level

In an interview with The Nation , Vinkhumbo recalls playing football with and against her sisters. Lucy Vinkhumbo played for Super Queens while Towera, Salome and Tamara Vinkhumbo all played for Mbawala Bush Bucks. [5] When selected to play for Malawi in the 2019 COSAFA Women's Championship and in 2020 Summer Olympics qualifiers, Towera and Salome Vinkhumbo were playing for Blantyre Zero. [7] [42]

Malawi

Vinkhumbo originally played for Malawi in the early 2000s. Some reports suggest that she was a young as 10 or 14 when she made her senior debut. She went on to represent Malawi in COSAFA Women's Championship tournament and in Africa Women Cup of Nations qualifiers. However in 2006 she lost her place in the team and she subsequently focused on her netball career. Thirteen years later she would make a comeback with the national team. [4] [7]

In July 2019 Vinkhumbo represented Malawi in both the 2019 Netball World Cup and at the 2019 COSAFA Women's Championship. The two sisters also played for Malawi in 2020 Summer Olympics qualifiers. [6] [7] [9]

TournamentsRound
2019 COSAFA Women's Championship [43] [44] [45] Group stage
2020 CAF Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament [8] [9] [46] [47] Second round

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New Zealand national netball team</span> National netball team

The New Zealand national netball team, commonly known as the Silver Ferns, represent Netball New Zealand in international netball tournaments such as the Netball World Cup, the Commonwealth Games, the Taini Jamison Trophy, the Constellation Cup, the Netball Quad Series and the Fast5 Netball World Series. They have also represented New Zealand at the World Games. New Zealand made their test debut in 1938. As of 2023, New Zealand have been world champions on five occasions and Commonwealth champions twice. They are regularly ranked number two in the World Netball Rankings.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">South Africa national netball team</span> National netball team

The South Africa national netball team, also known as the SPAR Proteas, represent Netball South Africa in international netball tournaments, such as the Netball World Cup, the Commonwealth Games, the Netball Quad Series and the Fast5 Netball World Series. Their best result in a major tournament is a silver medal at the 1995 World Netball Championships. As of 1 March 2024, South Africa are currently fifth in the World Netball Rankings.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Malawi national netball team</span> Netball team

The Malawi national netball team, nicknamed "The Queens", represent Malawi in international netball competitions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Uganda national netball team</span> National netball team

The Uganda national netball team, also known as the She-Cranes, represent the Uganda Netball Federation in international netball tournaments, such as the Netball World Cup and the Commonwealth Games. Uganda have won Africa Netball Cup, All-Africa Games and Netball Singapore Nations Cup tournaments. Their best results in major tournaments are fifth place finishes at the 2022 Commonwealth Games and the 2023 Netball World Cup. As of 25 July 2024, Uganda are sixth in the World Netball Rankings.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ama Agbeze</span> England netball international

Ama Agbeze is an England netball international. She was captain when England won the gold medal at the 2018 Commonwealth Games. In 2019 she received an for her services to netball. She was also a member of the England team that won the bronze medal at the 2006 Commonwealth Games. As of 2020, Agbeze has played for at least sixteen different club teams in England, Australia and New Zealand.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Australia national netball team</span> National netball team

The Australia national netball team, also known as the Australian Diamonds, represent Netball Australia in international netball tournaments such as the Netball World Cup, the Commonwealth Games, the Constellation Cup, the Netball Quad Series and the Fast5 Netball World Series. They have also represented Australia at the World Games. Australia made their Test debut in 1938. As of 2023, Australia have been World champions on 12 occasions and Commonwealth champions on 4 occasions. They are regularly ranked number one in the World Netball Rankings.

Bongiwe Msomi is a former South Africa netball international and current netball coach. Between 2011 and 2023, Msomi made 171 senior appearances for South Africa. She represented South Africa at the 2011, 2015, 2019 and 2023 Netball World Cups and at 2014, 2018 and 2022 Commonwealth Games. She was a member of the South Africa teams that medalled at the 2012 World University Netball Championship and the 2012 Fast5 Netball World Series. Between 2016 and 2023 she captained South Africa. When she retired, she was South Africa's most capped netball international. Msomi was also a member of two Netball Superleague title winning teams – in 2015 with Surrey Storm and in 2017 with Wasps Netball. In 2022 she captained Gauteng Golden Fireballs when they won the Telkom Netball League title. Since 2019, Msomi has served as netball head coach at the University of Johannesburg.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zambia women's national football team</span> Association football team

The Zambia women's national association football team represents Zambia in association football, participating in qualifying tournaments for the FIFA Women's World Cup and other African-based competitions. It made its debut in the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup, becoming the first landlocked nation in Africa to qualify for a senior World Cup in either men's or women's soccer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Netball in Malawi</span>

Netball in Malawi is organized by the Netball Association of Malawi.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jo Harten</span> England netball international

Joanne Elizabeth Harten is a former England netball international. She was a member of the England team that won the gold medal at the 2018 Commonwealth Games. She also sits on the board of the Australian Netball Players’ Association.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mwai Kumwenda</span> Malawi netball 1nternational

Mwai Kumwenda(Note 1) is a Malawi netball international player. She represented Malawi at the 2010, 2014 and 2018 Commonwealth Games and at the 2011 and 2015 Netball World Cups. Kumwenda was the top goal scorer at three successive major tournaments – the 2014 Commonwealth Games, the 2015 Netball World Cup and the 2018 Commonwealth Games. At the 2015 Netball World Cup she was also named player of the tournament. Kumwenda captained Malawi and was again tournament top scorer when they finished third at the 2016 Fast5 Netball World Series. At club level Kumwenda has played for Peninsula Waves in the Victorian Netball League, Victorian Fury in the Australian Netball League, Mainland Tactix in the ANZ Championship and for Melbourne Vixens in Suncorp Super Netball.

Paige Amber Hadley is an Australian international netball player. Primarily a wing attack and centre player, Hadley is a member of the Australian national team and plays in the Suncorp Super Netball for the New South Wales Swifts, for which she also serves as the club's Australian Netball Players’ Association delegate.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Severn Stars</span> Netball Superleague team

Severn Stars are an English netball team based at the University of Worcester. The team is named after the River Severn, which runs through Worcester and Gloucester, the original home cities of the two universities. Severn Stars were formed in 2016 and since 2017 their senior team has played in the Netball Superleague.

Sophie Muriel Garbin is an Australian netball player. She was a member of the New South Wales Swifts teams that won the 2019 and 2021 Suncorp Super Netball titles. In 2017 she was also a member of the Western Sting team that won the Australian Netball League title. She was also a member of the Australia team that won the bronze medal at the 2018 Fast5 Netball World Series. She also sits on the board of the Australian Netball Players’ Association. Garbin's older sister, Darcee Garbin, is an Australia women's basketball international.

Bridget Kumwenda, also referred to as Bridget Chalera or Bridget Kumwenda Chalera, is a Malawi netball international player. She represented Malawi at the 2011, 2015 and 2019 Netball World Cups and at the 2018 Commonwealth Games. Kumwenda was also a member of the Malawi team that finished third at the 2016 Fast5 Netball World Series.

Loreen Ngwira also spelt as Laureen Ngwira is a Malawian netball player who plays for Malawi in the positions of GD and GK.

Takondwa Lwazi also spelt as Takwonda Lwazi is a Malawian netball player who plays for Malawi internationally and for Malawian local club Blue Eagles in the positions of C and WA. She is known as one of the finest netball centre players to have played for Malawi despite being only 160cm tall in height. She also serves as a Police Sergeant in the Malawi Police Service.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Malawi at the 2022 Commonwealth Games</span> Sporting event delegation

Malawi competed at the 2022 Commonwealth Games at Birmingham, England from 28 July to 8 August 2022. Having made its Games debut in 1970, it was Malawi's fourteenth appearance to date.

Aliyah Dunn is a New Zealand netball international. Dunn was a prominent member of the Central Pulse teams that won the 2019, 2020 and 2022 ANZ Premiership titles. She was also a fringe member of the 2017 Southern Steel team that won the inaugural ANZ Premiership title. Dunn was also a member of the New Zealand teams that won the 2017 Netball World Youth Cup and the 2018 Fast5 Netball World Series. Between 2015 and 2017, Dunn also represented the New Zealand women's national basketball team at under-17 and under-19 levels. In 2022 she played for Tokomanawa Queens in the new Tauihi Basketball Aotearoa league.

The 2013 African Netball Championship was hosted by Malawi in June 2013. It was the second African Netball Championships tournament. It featured eight African national teams. With a team coached by Elize Kotze and captained by Maryka Holtzhausen, South Africa won the tournament. South Africa finished the tournament undefeated, winning all five of their matches. In the final they defeated Malawi 54–52 after extra time.

References

  1. 1 2 "World Youth Netball Championships - Cook Islands 2009". sportstg.com. Retrieved 17 July 2020.
  2. 1 2 3 "Towera Vinkhumbo". gc2018.com. Archived from the original on 12 July 2020. Retrieved 15 July 2020.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Towera Vinkhumbo". www.nwc2019.co.uk. Archived from the original on 18 July 2019. Retrieved 18 July 2019.
  4. 1 2 3 "Towera Nyirenda: the crown of three sports". mwnation.com. 14 April 2019. Archived from the original on 16 July 2020. Retrieved 16 July 2020.
  5. 1 2 3 "Big Interview: Towera Vinkhumbo, the dazzling Queen". mwnation.com. 17 August 2014. Archived from the original on 19 February 2020. Retrieved 19 February 2020.
  6. 1 2 3 4 "Exclusive Interview: Towera Vinkhumbo is a superstar for Malawi in two sporting codes". africanfootball.com. 6 August 2019. Archived from the original on 15 July 2020. Retrieved 15 July 2020.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "How Towera Vinkhumbo excels in football and netball". www.newframe.com. 14 September 2019. Archived from the original on 15 July 2020. Retrieved 15 July 2020.
  8. 1 2 3 "Towera Vinkhumbo - Unsung hero of Malawi Sports: netballer & footballer in one". www.mbc.mw. 9 April 2019. Archived from the original on 18 July 2019. Retrieved 18 July 2019.
  9. 1 2 3 4 "Towera, Malawi's all-round sports star". www.cafonline.com. 16 October 2019. Retrieved 15 July 2020.
  10. 1 2 "Diamonds, She-Flames fight for three stars". times.mw. 23 August 2019. Archived from the original on 9 December 2019. Retrieved 16 July 2020.
  11. ↑ "Escom Sisters". gotvnetball.com. Archived from the original on 11 July 2020. Retrieved 10 July 2020.
  12. 1 2 "Kukoma give Vinkhumbo-Nyirenda a hearty send-off". www.mwnation.com. 9 January 2020. Archived from the original on 15 July 2020. Retrieved 15 July 2020.
  13. ↑ "Ama Agbeze joins Severn Stars for 2020 Vitality Netball Superleague season". www.skysports.com. 8 November 2019. Archived from the original on 28 March 2020. Retrieved 28 March 2020.
  14. 1 2 3 "Vinkhumbo signs for UK's Seven Stars". www.mwnation.com. 10 November 2019. Archived from the original on 16 July 2020. Retrieved 14 July 2020.
  15. 1 2 3 "Stars seal Ama and Towera ahead of new campaign". worcesterobserver.co.uk. 14 November 2019. Archived from the original on 19 December 2019. Retrieved 15 July 2020.
  16. ↑ "Towera Vinkhumbo". www.netballsl.com. Archived from the original on 5 July 2020. Retrieved 15 July 2020.
  17. ↑ "Women Netball XIII World Championship 2011 Singapore". www.todor66.com. Archived from the original on 7 July 2020. Retrieved 25 February 2020.
  18. ↑ "Malawi beat South Africa in Netball Diamond Challenge". www.nyasatimes.com. 17 August 2012. Retrieved 27 October 2024.
  19. ↑ "Queens Have Diamond Challenge Advantage". gsport.co.za. 18 August 2012. Retrieved 27 October 2024.
  20. ↑ "SA Down Malawi at Diamond Challenge". gsport.co.za. 18 August 2012. Archived from the original on 17 October 2021. Retrieved 27 October 2024.
  21. ↑ "Australians finish sixth with loss to Malawi". www.womensportreport.com. 12 November 2012. Archived from the original on 10 July 2020. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
  22. ↑ "Malawi Queens beat Zimbabwe in African Netball Championship Opener". www.nyasatimes.com. 24 June 2013. Archived from the original on 17 January 2021. Retrieved 7 December 2024.
  23. ↑ "New Zealand 72–39 Malawi". mc.championdata.com. 31 October 2013. Retrieved 29 November 2023.
  24. ↑ "Malawi Queens squad selected with no players from Tigresses". www.nyasatimes.com. 25 September 2013. Archived from the original on 3 December 2020. Retrieved 30 November 2023.
  25. ↑ "Four Malawi players miss New Zealand series". www.stuff.co.nz. 23 October 2013. Archived from the original on 15 July 2020. Retrieved 15 July 2020.
  26. ↑ "Malawi 53–45 South Africa". glasgow2014.com. 1 August 2014. Archived from the original on 6 March 2016. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
  27. ↑ "Women Netball XIV World Championship 2015 Sydney". www.todor66.com. Archived from the original on 18 June 2020. Retrieved 25 February 2020.
  28. ↑ "Netball World Cup: New Zealand pushed by Malawi, England trounces Wales by 45 points". www.abc.net.au. 12 August 2015. Archived from the original on 17 August 2015. Retrieved 7 July 2020.
  29. ↑ "Silver Ferns overcome gritty Malawi". www.netballnz.co.nz. 12 August 2015. Archived from the original on 9 July 2020. Retrieved 7 July 2020.
  30. ↑ "Fast5 History 2016". INF. 25 October 2018. Archived from the original on 8 July 2020. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
  31. ↑ "Taini Jamison Trophy: Wins for Jamaica and New Zealand on day 1". World Netball. 21 March 2018. Archived from the original on 5 August 2020. Retrieved 10 December 2023.
  32. ↑ "Taini Jamison Trophy: Jamaica win in thrilling final". World Netball. 26 March 2018. Archived from the original on 5 August 2020. Retrieved 10 December 2023.
  33. ↑ "Women Netball Commonwealth Games Golden Goast, Australia 2018". www.todor66.com. Archived from the original on 12 January 2020. Retrieved 5 January 2020.
  34. ↑ "Malawi". INF. Archived from the original on 12 July 2020. Retrieved 10 July 2020.
  35. ↑ "Australia overcame Malawi to finish third at Fast5 Netball World Series". netball.com.au. 28 October 2018. Archived from the original on 15 July 2020. Retrieved 15 July 2020.
  36. ↑ "Silver Ferns open with seamless win over Malawi". www.silverferns.co.nz. 12 July 2019. Archived from the original on 16 July 2020. Retrieved 15 July 2020.
  37. ↑ "Malawi register win over Zimbabwe at Netball World Cup". supersport.com. 18 July 2019. Archived from the original on 16 July 2020. Retrieved 15 July 2020.
  38. ↑ "Towera Vinkhumbo rejoins Queens squad". times.mw. 9 October 2019. Archived from the original on 15 July 2020. Retrieved 15 July 2020.
  39. ↑ "Peace names Queens squad, drops Mwawi". www.kulinji.com. 10 October 2019. Archived from the original on 10 July 2020. Retrieved 8 July 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  40. ↑ "Mwawi Kumwenda out of African Tournament squad". www.247malawi.com. 11 October 2019. Archived from the original on 9 July 2020. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
  41. ↑ "Jamaica 36–31 Malawi". mc.championdata.com. 12 November 2023. Archived from the original on 24 January 2024. Retrieved 22 January 2024.
  42. ↑ "Malawi recall Chawinga duo for Kenya Olympic test". www.cafonline.com. 25 August 2019. Retrieved 17 July 2020.
  43. ↑ "Malawi look to multi-talented Vinkhumbo at COSAFA Women's Championship". www.cosafa.com. 29 July 2019. Archived from the original on 15 July 2020. Retrieved 15 July 2020.
  44. ↑ "Malawi go down to South Africa". times.mw. 3 August 2019. Archived from the original on 3 December 2019. Retrieved 17 July 2020.
  45. ↑ "8 goal scorer Kasenda named player of match after Malawi women thrash Comoros 13-0". www.nyasatimes.com. 5 August 2019. Archived from the original on 5 December 2019. Retrieved 17 July 2020.
  46. ↑ "She-Flames survive Kenya's scare". www.kulinji.com. 28 August 2019. Archived from the original on 17 July 2020. Retrieved 16 July 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  47. ↑ "Olympic Qualifier: Adam's brace seals Harambee Starlets victory against Malawi". www.goal.com. 1 September 2019. Archived from the original on 15 July 2020. Retrieved 15 July 2020.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.