Netball player and coach: Zanté Farmer

Zanté Farmer's journey in netball began at the tender age of seven, and her first tour to Walvis Bay remains a cherished memory.

"Playing my first netball match and seeing my family next to the court is a memory I will cherish forever," she said.

Admiring the dedication and humility of her netball idol, Maddy Gordon, Farmer draws inspiration from the New Zealander's work ethic and faith.

"She is young, athletic and simply so humble. She trains very hard to play at the level she currently does, and she believes that what’s meant for you will never come easy. You need to work while others sleep."

Balancing her roles as both netball player and coach, Farmer manages to keep her focus clear. "At times, being a player, it’s difficult to not start coaching your teammates, yet I do remind myself which role I play at that specific time," she emphasised.

She coaches three teams at Windhoek Gymnasium and runs her own netball academy, devoting most of her day to coaching.

Farmer believes in living in the moment, which helps her manage the dual roles without feeling overwhelmed. "When I play, I wear my player's hat, and when I coach, I wear my coaching hat," she added.

One of her funniest game moments involved a contact lens mishap. "One of my contact lenses fell out, and I had to continue playing. One eye could see everything clearly, and the other eye not," she recounted with a laugh.

Before every game, Farmer has a ritual that keeps her grounded. "I pray before every game. Without God, I am nothing and simply cannot take court without acknowledging Him," she said.

As a coach, she said she finds great joy in watching her under-14 team improve and work towards their goals. "Seeing them improve and work collectively towards the same goal is the most rewarding part."

To keep her training sessions engaging, Farmer sets a new goal each week. "I plan my sessions according to what we want to achieve and strive to always challenge them. They love challenges and flourish under pressure," she said, adding: "Having fun is my number one rule".

When asked about emerging superstars in her team, Farmer praised all her players. "All my girls are superstars. We had four girls in the Khomas Region team this year and one shadow player," she noted.

After tough losses, Farmer motivates her team by reminding them of their goals and the strength they gain from challenges. "I often remind them that God gives His toughest battles to His strongest soldiers."

A memorable moment for the player and coach came during a tournament in Pretoria when her team surprised her with their performance against a top South African team. "We played against the home side, and the score after the first half was 8-4 to them. It was a moment of realisation that they truly are capable of being great," she recalled.

If Farmer could have any superpower to help her on the court, it would be reading minds. "It would help to know what my opponent will do next, but it might not keep things interesting," she said with a laugh.

Her go-to post-game meal is sushi, and her recovery drink after training is a Steri Stumpie. Describing her coaching style, Farmer likens herself to Wonder Woman. "Humble yet powerful in what I do," she said.

And if she could challenge any professional netball team, it would be the Pulse in the ANZ league. "Simply so that I can meet Maddy Gordon," she added with a smile.