DSNC winners to experience Netball World Cup

The 2023 edition of the DStv Schools Netball Challenge (DSNC) national finals will be the biggest yet. Not only will the winning teams will claim the bragging rights of the top performing schools but they will also get an opportunity of a lifetime.

MultiChoice has raised the stakes and winners of the national finals set for 21-23 July at Hoërskool Florida will win tickets for the Pool C match between the host nation, the Spar Proteas, and Sri Lanka. The players will also get to meet and mingle with their national heroes after the game.

The third edition of the tournament saw over 30 048 players from around the country compete for the coveted title of being the best school netball team in the country. A total of 45 schools will descend to Gauteng for the three day competition. All nine provinces will be represented in the third annual competition where two schools will be crowned the best netball teams in the country.

Speed, agility, and decision-making are the way of the game. From over 2500 schools that started the journey in February, from playoffs to National Finals, we introduce The Winner's Circle!

Watch as our next future sports stars showcase their talents to the world! Catch all the… pic.twitter.com/lapkGOaKAr — MultiChoice Group (@MultiChoiceGRP) July 14, 2023

The DSNC is a partnership between MultiChoice and SA Schools Netball (SASN) and offers a platform for players from all schools (urban and rural areas) to get to experience the sport on the same level. The competition is divided into two streams, Botho and Ubuntu, which offers an opportunity for the haves and have-nots to go to the top of the competition.

Executive Head of Corporate Affairs South Africa at MultiChoice Tumi Masekela says taking the winners to the Netball World Cup in Cape Town is a way to inspire the next generation of the Spar Proteas to dream big.

“I am hoping, with the World Cup being in South Africa and the work that we are doing as Multichoice and DStv, we can inspire a lot of the young girls that never imagined sport as being an opportunity for them to have an amazing career. Secondly, putting a spotlight on the choices that women make in their careers. Through our Here For Her campaign, we have showcased that women can hold their own. We are taking an entire crew of women to the World Cup and if that doesn’t inspire anybody, then I don’t know what could.

How do you inspire people? You show them what greatness looks like. It’s all well to be playing in Alexander or Mapetla in Soweto but if you have never seen what a World Cup stage looks like, what do you aspire to? For MultiChoice to be creating that opportunity for these young girls is a powerful opportunity for them to take it all in. So that when they go play back home they know what they are playing towards. They will know what it feels like to be a Spar Protea and they know what it is like being in a World Cup setting. We are excited on their behalf and we are hoping this is the opportunity they all can get inspired,” says Masekela.

Hoërskool Menlopark captain Mieke Bornman, who have qualified for a third national final, says the new prize will push her side to improve on the bronze medal they got in last year’s edition.

“We have been working really hard as a team, physically and mentally. We are just really excited to show everyone what we have got and hopefully take the win for us. It’s really important to us, we have worked really hard and each game we just become better as a team, bonding and we’re physically stronger. I feel like every time we play, we play better. Hopefully, we won’t end it third last year but we will make it to the finals and hopefully take the win.

“That is extremely exciting and whoever wins is super lucky, hopefully, it’s us. That would be an incredible privilege, it’s an incredible prize to win. Not only being national champions but also getting that experience is incredible,” says Bornman.

While Kgaphamadi Secondary School’s goal keeper Katlego Magole says the team has been working hard to be sharp and ready for the national finals DSNC. The Bosplaas school from the North West will be playing in their second national

“It’s going great but it is a little tough because we are trying to be at our level best. But everything is okay. We have support from the coaches, we are also disciplined so everything is going well currently. I think consistency is what will drive us because if we lose a game and we lose ourselves, nothing is going to go okay. But if we are consistent in what we do, I think things will be just fine. We have been doing this each and every year, I think consistency and discipline are what will drive us this year.

This is absolutely exciting and I am actually looking forward to the games so that we can have fun and enjoy but most importantly, I want us to win. I want to be part of the Cape Town match, I really want to go. I really want to go with my team because it will be an amazing experience,” she says.