The Overberg region town of Bredasdorp will on 21 June be awash with emerging netball talent when they converge on the local Primary School sportsground for the Western Cape DStv Schools Netball Challenge championship.
Among those who are aspiring to represent the region at next month’s national finals for uunder-19 teams are defending 2024 provincial winner La Rochelle of Paarl and last year’s losing finalist Paarl Girls. La Rochelle, who will surely start as favourites to retain their title start their 2025 campaign against Stellenberg, in the opening match of the day long event at 9am at the Bredasdorp Primary School.
The anticipated action should provide a perfect start to what is to be expected drama filled day of top class action.
Among the contenders for the prestigious title is the Weston High School of Vredenburg in the West Coast region of the province, who according to their coach Afton Cloete will make a serious bid for the honours. They open their campaign against Nomzamo, a school situated along the N2 in Strand near Somerset West.
“We have been training very hard for this tournament. Last year we did not do too well but the players need very little motivation to apply themselves for the provincial tournament. There is always a buzz at the event which we all appreciate," said Cloete.
The tournament which has become a highlight on the girls’ sports calendar over the past four years starts off with teams playing off in the respective regions before qualifying for the provincial finals and offers a national platform for secondary school players across South Africa, including rural and urban areas to compete and gain exposure.
The tournament is a partnership between Multichoice, the South African Schools Netball, and the Department of Basic Education in a bid to provide a stage for players from both urban and rural areas to experience and participate in a leading women's sport event.
Matches will be streamed live on the SuperSport Schools app, the tournament supports not only players but also serves to develop the skills of coaches and match officials.