Towera Vinkhumbo Explained
Towera Vinkhumbo |
Fullname: | Towera Angela Nyirenda[1] |
Maidenname: | Vinkhumbo |
Birth Date: | 14 February 1991[2] [3] |
Height: | [4] [5] |
Positions: | GD, GK |
Clubyears1: | 2008–2012 |
Clubyears2: | 2012–2020 |
Clubyears3: | 2019– |
Nationalyears1: | 2010– |
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.
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.[6] [7] [8] [9] 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.[10] [11] [12] Her sister, Salome Vinkhumbo, is also a Malawi women's football international and captained the team at the 2018 COSAFA Women's Championship.[13] [14] [15] [16]
Netball
Club level
- Escom Sisters/Kukoma DiamondsIn 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.[17] [18] [19] [20] [21] [22]
- Severn StarsVinkhumbo signed for Severn Stars of the Netball Superleague ahead of the 2020 season.[23] [24] [25] [26] [27]
Malawi
Vinkhumbo represented Malawi at the 2010, 2014 and 2018 Commonwealth Games and at the 2011, 2015 and 2019 Netball World Cups.[28] [29] [30] 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.[31] [32]
Football
Towera Vinkhumbo |
Position: | Defender |
Clubs1: | Mbawala Bush Bucks |
Clubs2: | Blantyre Zero |
Nationalteam1: | Malawi |
Nationalyears1: | 2004– |
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.[61] 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.[62] [63]
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.[64] [65]
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.[66] [67] [68]
Notes and References
- Web site: World Youth Netball Championships - Cook Islands 2009. sportstg.com. 17 July 2020.
- Web site: Towera Vinkhumbo. gc2018.com. 15 July 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200712205103/https://results.gc2018.com/en/netball/athlete-profile-n6031332-towera-vinkhumbo.htm. 12 July 2020. live.
- Web site: Towera Vinkhumbo. www.nwc2019.co.uk. 18 July 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190718090321/https://www.nwc2019.co.uk/people/towera-vinkhumbo/. 18 July 2019. live.
- Web site: Towera Vinkhumbo. gc2018.com. 15 July 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200712205103/https://results.gc2018.com/en/netball/athlete-profile-n6031332-towera-vinkhumbo.htm. 12 July 2020. live.
- Web site: Towera Vinkhumbo. www.nwc2019.co.uk. 18 July 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190718090321/https://www.nwc2019.co.uk/people/towera-vinkhumbo/. 18 July 2019. live.
- Web site: Towera Nyirenda: the crown of three sports. mwnation.com. 16 July 2020. 14 April 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20200716193411/https://www.mwnation.com/towera-nyirenda-the-crown-of-three-sports/. 16 July 2020. live.
- Web site: Big Interview: Towera Vinkhumbo, the dazzling Queen. mwnation.com. 19 February 2020. 17 August 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20200219045811/https://mwnation.com/big-interview-towera-vinkhumbo-the-dazzling-queen/. 19 February 2020. live.
- Web site: Exclusive Interview: Towera Vinkhumbo is a superstar for Malawi in two sporting codes. africanfootball.com. 15 July 2020. 6 August 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20200715163355/https://africanfootball.com/news/771220/EXCLUSIVE-INTERVIEW-Towera-Vinkhumbo-is-a-superstar-for-Malawi-in-two-sporting-codes. 15 July 2020. live.
- Web site: How Towera Vinkhumbo excels in football and netball. www.newframe.com. 15 July 2020. 14 September 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20200715161351/https://www.newframe.com/how-towera-vinkhumbo-excels-in-football-and-netball/. 15 July 2020. live.
- Web site: Towera Nyirenda: the crown of three sports. mwnation.com. 16 July 2020. 14 April 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20200716193411/https://www.mwnation.com/towera-nyirenda-the-crown-of-three-sports/. 16 July 2020. live.
- Web site: Exclusive Interview: Towera Vinkhumbo is a superstar for Malawi in two sporting codes. africanfootball.com. 15 July 2020. 6 August 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20200715163355/https://africanfootball.com/news/771220/EXCLUSIVE-INTERVIEW-Towera-Vinkhumbo-is-a-superstar-for-Malawi-in-two-sporting-codes. 15 July 2020. live.
- Web site: Towera Vinkhumbo - Unsung hero of Malawi Sports: netballer & footballer in one. www.mbc.mw. 18 July 2019. 9 April 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190718090323/https://www.mbc.mw/index.php/news/sports/item/7949-towera-vinkhumbo-unsung-hero-of-malawi-sports-netballer-footballer-in-one. 18 July 2019. live.
- Web site: Exclusive Interview: Towera Vinkhumbo is a superstar for Malawi in two sporting codes. africanfootball.com. 15 July 2020. 6 August 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20200715163355/https://africanfootball.com/news/771220/EXCLUSIVE-INTERVIEW-Towera-Vinkhumbo-is-a-superstar-for-Malawi-in-two-sporting-codes. 15 July 2020. live.
- Web site: How Towera Vinkhumbo excels in football and netball. www.newframe.com. 15 July 2020. 14 September 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20200715161351/https://www.newframe.com/how-towera-vinkhumbo-excels-in-football-and-netball/. 15 July 2020. live.
- Web site: Towera, Malawi's all-round sports star. www.cafonline.com. 15 July 2020. 16 October 2019.
- Web site: Diamonds, She-Flames fight for three stars. times.mw. 16 July 2020. 23 August 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191209151550/https://times.mw/diamonds-she-flames-fight-for-three-stars/. 9 December 2019. live.
- Web site: How Towera Vinkhumbo excels in football and netball. www.newframe.com. 15 July 2020. 14 September 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20200715161351/https://www.newframe.com/how-towera-vinkhumbo-excels-in-football-and-netball/. 15 July 2020. live.
- Web site: Big Interview: Towera Vinkhumbo, the dazzling Queen. mwnation.com. 19 February 2020. 17 August 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20200219045811/https://mwnation.com/big-interview-towera-vinkhumbo-the-dazzling-queen/. 19 February 2020. live.
- Web site: Towera, Malawi's all-round sports star. www.cafonline.com. 15 July 2020. 16 October 2019.
- Web site: Diamonds, She-Flames fight for three stars. times.mw. 16 July 2020. 23 August 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191209151550/https://times.mw/diamonds-she-flames-fight-for-three-stars/. 9 December 2019. live.
- Web site: Escom Sisters. gotvnetball.com. 10 July 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200711225337/http://gotvnetball.byethost11.com/?page_id=150. 11 July 2020. live.
- Web site: Kukoma give Vinkhumbo-Nyirenda a hearty send-off. www.mwnation.com. 15 July 2020. 9 January 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200715234946/https://www.mwnation.com/kukoma-give-vinkhumbo-nyirenda-a-hearty-send-off/. 15 July 2020. live.
- Web site: Kukoma give Vinkhumbo-Nyirenda a hearty send-off. www.mwnation.com. 15 July 2020. 9 January 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200715234946/https://www.mwnation.com/kukoma-give-vinkhumbo-nyirenda-a-hearty-send-off/. 15 July 2020. live.
- Web site: Ama Agbeze joins Severn Stars for 2020 Vitality Netball Superleague season. www.skysports.com. 28 March 2020. 8 November 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20200328201736/https://www.skysports.com/netball/news/12415/11857166/ama-agbeze-joins-severn-stars-for-2020-vitality-netball-superleague-season. 28 March 2020. live.
- Web site: Vinkhumbo signs for UK's Seven Stars. www.mwnation.com. 14 July 2020. 10 November 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20200716230510/https://www.mwnation.com/vinkhumbo-signs-for-uks-seven-stars/. 16 July 2020. live.
- Web site: Stars seal Ama and Towera ahead of new campaign. worcesterobserver.co.uk. 15 July 2020. 14 November 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191219050444/https://worcesterobserver.co.uk/sport/stars-seal-ama-and-towera-ahead-of-new-campaign/. 19 December 2019. live.
- Web site: Towera Vinkhumbo. www.netballsl.com. 15 July 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200705210827/https://www.netballsl.com/player/towera-vinkhumbo/. 5 July 2020. live.
- Web site: Towera Vinkhumbo. www.nwc2019.co.uk. 18 July 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190718090321/https://www.nwc2019.co.uk/people/towera-vinkhumbo/. 18 July 2019. live.
- Web site: Vinkhumbo signs for UK's Seven Stars. www.mwnation.com. 14 July 2020. 10 November 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20200716230510/https://www.mwnation.com/vinkhumbo-signs-for-uks-seven-stars/. 16 July 2020. live.
- Web site: Stars seal Ama and Towera ahead of new campaign. worcesterobserver.co.uk. 15 July 2020. 14 November 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191219050444/https://worcesterobserver.co.uk/sport/stars-seal-ama-and-towera-ahead-of-new-campaign/. 19 December 2019. live.
- Web site: How Towera Vinkhumbo excels in football and netball. www.newframe.com. 15 July 2020. 14 September 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20200715161351/https://www.newframe.com/how-towera-vinkhumbo-excels-in-football-and-netball/. 15 July 2020. live.
- Web site: Towera Vinkhumbo - Unsung hero of Malawi Sports: netballer & footballer in one. www.mbc.mw. 18 July 2019. 9 April 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190718090323/https://www.mbc.mw/index.php/news/sports/item/7949-towera-vinkhumbo-unsung-hero-of-malawi-sports-netballer-footballer-in-one. 18 July 2019. live.
- Web site: World Youth Netball Championships - Cook Islands 2009. sportstg.com. 17 July 2020.
- Web site: Vinkhumbo signs for UK's Seven Stars. www.mwnation.com. 14 July 2020. 10 November 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20200716230510/https://www.mwnation.com/vinkhumbo-signs-for-uks-seven-stars/. 16 July 2020. live.
- Web site: Stars seal Ama and Towera ahead of new campaign. worcesterobserver.co.uk. 15 July 2020. 14 November 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191219050444/https://worcesterobserver.co.uk/sport/stars-seal-ama-and-towera-ahead-of-new-campaign/. 19 December 2019. live.
- Web site: Towera Vinkhumbo. www.nwc2019.co.uk. 18 July 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190718090321/https://www.nwc2019.co.uk/people/towera-vinkhumbo/. 18 July 2019. live.
- Web site: Women Netball XIII World Championship 2011 Singapore. www.todor66.com. 25 February 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200707133659/http://www.todor66.com/others/Netball/World/Women_2011.html#Teams_Composition. 7 July 2020. live.
- Web site: Australians finish sixth with loss to Malawi. www.womensportreport.com. 8 July 2020. 12 November 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20200710205745/https://www.womensportreport.com/australians-finish-sixth-with-loss/wn/15842. 10 July 2020. live.
- Web site: New Zealand 72–39 Malawi. mc.championdata.com. 29 November 2023. 31 October 2013.
- Web site: Malawi Queens squad selected with no players from Tigresses. www.nyasatimes.com. https://web.archive.org/web/20201203171413/https://www.nyasatimes.com/malawi-queens-squad-selected-with-no-players-from-tigresses/. 3 December 2020. 30 November 2023. 25 September 2013.
- Web site: Four Malawi players miss New Zealand series. www.stuff.co.nz. 15 July 2020. 23 October 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20200715192832/http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/9309327/Four-Malawi-players-miss-New-Zealand-series. 15 July 2020. live.
- Web site: Malawi 53–45 South Africa. glasgow2014.com. 8 July 2020. 1 August 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20160306023724/http://results.glasgow2014.com/PEVU/PEVU_NBW400103.html. 6 March 2016. live.
- Web site: Towera Vinkhumbo. www.nwc2019.co.uk. 18 July 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190718090321/https://www.nwc2019.co.uk/people/towera-vinkhumbo/. 18 July 2019. live.
- Web site: Women Netball XIV World Championship 2015 Sydney. www.todor66.com. 25 February 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200618154542/http://www.todor66.com/others/Netball/World/Women_2015.html#Teams_Composition. 18 June 2020. live.
- Web site: Netball World Cup: New Zealand pushed by Malawi, England trounces Wales by 45 points. www.abc.net.au. 7 July 2020. 12 August 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150817050923/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-08-12/england-trounces-wales-by-45-points-at-netball-world-cup/6693068. 17 August 2015. live.
- Web site: Silver Ferns overcome gritty Malawi. www.netballnz.co.nz. 7 July 2020. 12 August 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20200709172526/https://www.netballnz.co.nz/news/detail/silver-ferns-overcome-gritty-malawi. 9 July 2020. live.
- Web site: Fast5 History 2016. INF. 8 July 2020. 25 October 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20200708143950/https://netball.sport/archives/15122. 8 July 2020. live.
- Web site: Taini Jamison Trophy: Wins for Jamaica and New Zealand on day 1. World Netball. https://web.archive.org/web/20200805015540/https://netball.sport/archives/12382. 5 August 2020. 21 March 2018. 10 December 2023.
- Web site: Taini Jamison Trophy: Jamaica win in thrilling final. World Netball. https://web.archive.org/web/20200805015619/https://netball.sport/archives/12495. 5 August 2020. 26 March 2018. 10 December 2023.
- Web site: Towera Vinkhumbo. gc2018.com. 15 July 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200712205103/https://results.gc2018.com/en/netball/athlete-profile-n6031332-towera-vinkhumbo.htm. 12 July 2020. live.
- Web site: Women Netball Commonwealth Games Golden Goast, Australia 2018. www.todor66.com. 5 January 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200112170328/http://www.todor66.com/others/Netball/Commonwealth/Women_2018.html. 12 January 2020. live.
- Web site: Malawi. INF. 10 July 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200712222056/https://netball.sport/commonwealth-games/malawi. 12 July 2020. live.
- Web site: Australia overcame Malawi to finish third at Fast5 Netball World Series. netball.com.au. 15 July 2020. 28 October 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20200715210217/https://netball.com.au/news/australia-overcame-malawi-finish-third-fast5-netball-world-series. 15 July 2020. live.
- Web site: Towera Vinkhumbo. www.nwc2019.co.uk. 18 July 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190718090321/https://www.nwc2019.co.uk/people/towera-vinkhumbo/. 18 July 2019. live.
- Web site: Silver Ferns open with seamless win over Malawi. www.silverferns.co.nz. 15 July 2020. 12 July 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20200716021013/https://www.silverferns.co.nz/silver-ferns/news/latest-news/7237-silver-ferns-open-with-seamless-win-over-malawi.html. 16 July 2020. live.
- Web site: Malawi register win over Zimbabwe at Netball World Cup. supersport.com. 15 July 2020. 18 July 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20200716190419/https://supersport.com/general/netball-world-cup/news/190719_Malawi_register_win_over_Zimbabwe_at_Netball_World_Cup. 16 July 2020. live.
- Web site: Towera Vinkhumbo rejoins Queens squad. times.mw. 15 July 2020. 9 October 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20200715173426/https://times.mw/towera-vinkhumbo-rejoins-queens-squad/. 15 July 2020. live.
- Web site: Peace names Queens squad, drops Mwawi. www.kulinji.com. 8 July 2020. 10 October 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20200710105457/https://www.kulinji.com/article/sports/netball/2019/peace-names-queens-squad-drops-mwawi. 10 July 2020. live.
- Web site: Mwawi Kumwenda out of African Tournament squad. www.247malawi.com. 8 July 2020. 11 October 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20200709081952/https://www.247malawi.com/mwawi-kumwenda-out-of-african-tournament-squad/. 9 July 2020. live.
- Web site: 12 November 2023 . Jamaica 36–31 Malawi . live . https://archive.today/20240124231436/https://mc.championdata.com/fast5worldseries/index.html?competitionid=12376&matchid=123760101 . 24 January 2024 . 22 January 2024 . mc.championdata.com.
- Web site: Big Interview: Towera Vinkhumbo, the dazzling Queen. mwnation.com. 19 February 2020. 17 August 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20200219045811/https://mwnation.com/big-interview-towera-vinkhumbo-the-dazzling-queen/. 19 February 2020. live.
- Web site: How Towera Vinkhumbo excels in football and netball. www.newframe.com. 15 July 2020. 14 September 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20200715161351/https://www.newframe.com/how-towera-vinkhumbo-excels-in-football-and-netball/. 15 July 2020. live.
- Web site: Malawi recall Chawinga duo for Kenya Olympic test. www.cafonline.com. 17 July 2020. 25 August 2019.
- Web site: Towera Nyirenda: the crown of three sports. mwnation.com. 16 July 2020. 14 April 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20200716193411/https://www.mwnation.com/towera-nyirenda-the-crown-of-three-sports/. 16 July 2020. live.
- Web site: How Towera Vinkhumbo excels in football and netball. www.newframe.com. 15 July 2020. 14 September 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20200715161351/https://www.newframe.com/how-towera-vinkhumbo-excels-in-football-and-netball/. 15 July 2020. live.
- Web site: Exclusive Interview: Towera Vinkhumbo is a superstar for Malawi in two sporting codes. africanfootball.com. 15 July 2020. 6 August 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20200715163355/https://africanfootball.com/news/771220/EXCLUSIVE-INTERVIEW-Towera-Vinkhumbo-is-a-superstar-for-Malawi-in-two-sporting-codes. 15 July 2020. live.
- Web site: How Towera Vinkhumbo excels in football and netball. www.newframe.com. 15 July 2020. 14 September 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20200715161351/https://www.newframe.com/how-towera-vinkhumbo-excels-in-football-and-netball/. 15 July 2020. live.
- Web site: Towera, Malawi's all-round sports star. www.cafonline.com. 15 July 2020. 16 October 2019.
- Web site: Malawi look to multi-talented Vinkhumbo at COSAFA Women's Championship. www.cosafa.com. 15 July 2020. 29 July 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20200715212237/https://www.cosafa.com/malawi-look-to-multi-talented-vinkhumbo-at-cosafa-womens-championship/. 15 July 2020. live.
- Web site: Malawi go down to South Africa. times.mw. 17 July 2020. 3 August 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191203185748/https://times.mw/malawi-go-down-to-south-africa/. 3 December 2019. live.
- Web site: 8 goal scorer Kasenda named player of match after Malawi women thrash Comoros 13-0. www.nyasatimes.com. 17 July 2020. 5 August 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191205030335/https://www.nyasatimes.com/8-goal-scorer-kasenda-named-player-of-match-after-malawi-womenthrash-comoros-13-0/. 5 December 2019. live.
- Web site: Towera Vinkhumbo - Unsung hero of Malawi Sports: netballer & footballer in one. www.mbc.mw. 18 July 2019. 9 April 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190718090323/https://www.mbc.mw/index.php/news/sports/item/7949-towera-vinkhumbo-unsung-hero-of-malawi-sports-netballer-footballer-in-one. 18 July 2019. live.
- Web site: Towera, Malawi's all-round sports star. www.cafonline.com. 15 July 2020. 16 October 2019.
- Web site: She-Flames survive Kenya's scare. www.kulinji.com. 16 July 2020. 28 August 2019.
- Web site: Olympic Qualifier: Adam's brace seals Harambee Starlets victory against Malawi. www.goal.com. 15 July 2020. 1 September 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20200715165222/https://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/olympic-qualifier-adams-brace-seals-harambee-starlets/q00rrpqwymh11q7fwm5pvpusk. 15 July 2020. live.