Limpopo’s top six teams have been decided for the upcoming DSTV Schools Netball Challenge and Hlabi Secondary School is back in the mix to defend their title.
The Limpopo leg of the competition saw 16 teams (eight Ubuntu and eight Botho) gather at Hoerskool Pietersburg in Polokwane for the opportunity to represent the province at the 8–9 August Nationals in Concordia, Johannesburg.
Hlabi, Makgofe High School and Eagles Nest Christian School will play in the Ubuntu division while Hoërskool Pietersburg, Hoerskool Ben Vorster and Hoërskool Merensky will compete in the Botho section.
The DSNC is divided into two streams, Ubuntu (rural and township schools) and Botho (urban and model C schools) which allows schools to participate at the same level. The competition saw both streams play against one another before going to the different divisions. Hlabi beat Eagles Nest on their way to the final and also made easy work of Magkofe in the final while PHS put on a show against Ben Vorster in the final.
Limpopo Schools Netball coaching convener, Elmari Craig says the province hosted a successful tournament.
“We are very grateful for the opportunity that DStv gave our players to be either on live TV or the app so that more people can view. Obviously, it was a new thing for us, we learned a lot, so we are looking forward to do even a better job next year. We are very proud of the teams that ended in the top three. We are especially looking forward to what the teams of PHS and Hlabi will do at the DSTV Nationals and we are going to work very hard to make sure that we can give our best at the National Challenge,” said Craig.
PHS, Ben Vorster, Hlabi and Makgofe will all make their second appearance at the nationals.