Shayamoya Area Secondary School is aiming for gold at the 2026 national finals of the DStv Schools Netball Challenge (DSNC), powered by Bestmed Medical Scheme.
The school based in the rural Shayamoya Area Location in Kokstad is competing in its sixth edition of the competition taking place at the Hoërskool Dr E.G. Jansen in Boksburg from 23 to 25 July.
Although Shayamoya has been one of the most formidable sides over the years, they have not yet achieved a podium finish. Their best finish was fifth position in the 2024 edition of the competition.
The Netball Challenge was launched in 2021 and it is a collaboration between Multichoice, a CanalPlus company, and the South African Schools Netball.
The competition is divided into two streams, Botho and Ubuntu, for schools in both rural and urban areas, for an equal opportunity to showcase their talent on a national stage.
GOING FOR GOLD
Shayamoya began their national finals campaign with an emphatic win over Mpumalanga’s Chief Ampie Mayisa Secondary School. The KwaZulu-Natal side won 41-7.
Shayamoya goalkeeper Sinegugu Gamede says their aim is to not only improve on their best finish in the competition but they are going for gold.
“I am happy about our performance and because the score is quite high. But we need to fix some mistakes for us to do well throughout the competition. I think if we didn’t make those many mistakes of loose balls in the circle, we would have won by an even bigger margin. Our wish this year is to play well and get the No 1 position. We want the gold medal. We are here for the gold and nothing else. For us to get to that gold we have to respect each other and stay disciplined. Continue playing our own style of netball and not copy what other teams do,” says Gamede.
The lanky player understands that their way to the top won’t be smooth sailing. Gamede says they are cautious of Gauteng provincial champions, Helpmekaar Kollege.
The Braamfontein-based side also started their campaign with positive results. They ended day one on four points after wins over Chief Ampie and Hoërskool Framesby.
Shayamoya and Helpmekaar will begin day two of the national final against each other. Gamede says they are looking to get a win over the Gauteng side.
“We played Helpmekaar in Kimberley (Absa Wildeklawer Sports Tournament) and we couldn’t contain them. They play fast netball. We have to play safe passes and fight until the last whistle,” she says.
Hoërskool Rustenburg, C&N Sekondêre Meisieskool Oranje and Hoërskool Pietersburg are the other teams who started the nationals on a good footing, each winning two matches in their respective pools.