Zanele Vimbela rises back from a career threatening injury

Spar Proteas goalkeeper Zanele Vimbela has returned from a horrific ACL injury that threatened her international career.

Vimbela managed a much quicker recovery and was able to return to the United Kingdom where she plays in the Vitality Super League for Loughborough Lighting.

The South African international goalkeeper was due to represent Strathclyde Sirens in the 2021 season; however she suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury in the Telkom Netball League prior to the season starting.

Vimbs said it was challenging overcoming the injury to get back on court again.

œIt has been quite tough to manage the injury especially the long serious one as my knee but also I learn from ummh the discipline of having to recover properly it has been physically a challenge and also mentally but just as long as I followed my recovery plan properly I was able to get back in the court the way I was supposed to said Vimbela.

She is on the verge on winning a title in the Super League following an amazing season which saw her side only losing a single game in order to qualify for the semi-finals of the competition.

Loughborough are second in the log behind Manchester Thunder having lost only to Phumza Maweni™s Team Bath Netball.

Vimbela is hopeful that the team will successfully defend their title.

œThe season has been going great so far, we have been doing well with our record of only one loss during the season, so it™s been going good and I'm just hoping to get better before the play-offs she told SABC Sport.

Although she has been great for her side, she doesn™t know yet if she will return to the Super League next season.

The Coronavirus pandemic forced the changes to how the sport relate. Being able to play home and away games has restored some normality to the game.

œIt is quite different I think, in terms of it been with home and away games before it had to be centralized due to Covid restrictions ummh as of now thing gone a bit easier with all the teams hosting and playing away games so I think we just want to end the season well obviously we are defending tour title and we hoping to meet whoever we meet in the final as well having secure a home semi I think it will be an added advantage to that result the 32-year-old goalkeeper said in conclusion.

With the international season approaching, starting with the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, Vimbela understands that she will not just walk into the team but has to work for her place.

By Busisiwe Mokwena