The Hlabi Secondary School netball team is patting itself on the back after the glory they brought to their village will now have a lasting legacy. Although the school is in a rural village of Mogaung in Limpopo, they showed talent and grit to become the national DStv Schools Netball Challenge (DSNC), powered by Bestmed Medical Scheme, champions.
Their background didn’t deter them from achieving this feat twice. They won the inaugural competition in 2021 and returned to the top again in 2023. They are one of only two schools to have won the competition twice. Afrikaanse Hoër Meisieskool is the other school.
The school won the competition while playing and training on a dusty gravel ground. However, Multichoice has ensured that the school will have a more sustainable ground by providing them with a state-of-the-art multi-court, which the community will also benefit from.
Former players, Rebecca Maroga and Precious Mampuru, are happy that their generations have brought the much needed change in their school and community.
“We are thrilled because our community and the schools will remember us. This is a big occasion, it not only make us happy but the entire community as well because the children from this area will also benefit from this. They will use these courts and probably play way better than we did. Those kids won’t get injured as much as we used to when we played on dirt. Our socks, shoes, and the kit would get dusty, but they will play on a beautiful court where they will not get as many injuries,” says 2023 champion, Maroga.
“I’m overwhelmed with happiness that we didn’t do this only for our school but also for the community. We are happy that future generations have a facility that they can play on, which will inspire them to work hard. However, they must know that nothing comes on a silver platter, they must work hard to reach their goals. I would like to see my former school hosting tournaments here, and for the community to take care of the facilities and not vandalise them. I appreciate what DStv has done for us,” echoes the inaugural winner, Mampuru.
Bonisiwe Dlamini, Senior Manager: Transformation and CSI at Multichoice, says she’s proud of the work the company has been able to achieve through enriching lives.
“For us, it is to transform and develop the community, that is what we are known for, and for this field to continue serving other learners for more decades to come. We want to impact learners that are in primary that aspire to be sports champions, that they must not neglect their dreams. But most importantly, it's for us to say community, ‘here is a sports field that we' bringing to you, the children must use it to stay active and healthy.’ More so, the onus is on the community to ensure it is guarded for their future generations.
We see transformation already. If you look at the sports field, it's never been done before. It's actually state of the art and I remain proud to work for a company that its objective and transformation is really taken seriously. I'm proud of what we are doing as Multichoice,” says Dlamini.
The Netball Challenge is a partnership between Multichoice and the SA Schools Netball (SASN), launched in 2021. The competition is a platform that provides young athletes, from both rural and urban areas, an equal opportunity to showcase their talent on the national stage.