After being out of the game for six years, former Young Gems centre Sibonginkosi Dube is now back playing a pivotal role in helping Delta Sparrows defend their Southern Region Division One championship title.

Dube tore her ligament muscles after being hit by a car in 2009 at the peak of her career, and was told her chances of playing the sport she loves the most were next to zero.

“After the accident, I was given an option to either go for surgery which meant that I would never play netball again or take injections after every six months which gave me fifty-fifty chances of playing again.

“I was traumatized for quite a long time as I had to make a decision on whether to choose playing again or just focus on my career only.

“I chose the latter because netball has always been part of my life and now I take injections after every six months and never regret my decision,” said Dube.

Dube (31) now an electrician at Delta beverages started playing netball at primary level which made her get a scholarship at St James High School.

“At St James I played beautiful netball and was selected to play for the national team but coming from a family which valued academics over sport I was made to quite the game.

“After school I then joined Khami Queens before the fatal accident and the sad part is that I was once denied to enjoy my netball by my family and now it was this injury taking away my netballing career,” she added.

Not only does Dube have the passion for playing but she together with Peter Ncube and Perpetual Siyachitema have opened Unshaded netballing academy for young girls aged between 9 and 19.

“We saw the need for capturing talent from the grassroots and also the need to take the girl child out of the streets.

“Most netball clubs like Delta Sparrows, Khami Queens and Glow petroleum employ girls who play for their team,” Dube concluded.