Bethlehem Voortrekker High School will be abuzz this weekend when 19 schools seek a spot to represent the province at the 2025 edition of the DStv Schools Netball Challenge (DSNC), powered by Bestmed Medical Scheme.
The Free State boasts one of the DSNC national winners, C&N Sekondêre Meisieskool Oranje. Free State Schools Netball president, Constance Monyobo is confident that the school, even with their current list of injuries, is one of the teams to look out for in the provincial finals and also at the nationals in Johannesburg in July.
“I hope that they do well even with the injuries that they have. I am expecting to see a lot from them because I was looking at their Under-17 team this past weekend and I realised that they have a really good team,” she said.
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 a national stage.
The DSNC is divided into two streams, Botho and Ubuntu. It has been a platform for national coaches and selectors to spot and observe talent.
Five schools in the Botho and Ubuntu streams will proceed to the fifth annual competition set for 25-26 July at Hoërskool Dr. E.G. Jansen in Boksburg.
Monyobo believes the DSNC has shone the light on more township schools in netball and that the competition in the Free State has sparked an increase in interest for more schools to participate in netball.
“We now have a lot of participation in the competition, especially from the township schools. The assistance they get, when they go to the provincials and nationals, ensures schools don’t pull out due to the lack of funds. This is a plus for us,” said Monyobo.
Participating schools
Free State
UBUNTU
Motswela Secondary School, Eldoret Secondary School, Mpatleng Secondary School, Ntsu Secondary School, Barnard Molokoane Secondary School, Lebogang Secondary School, Commtech Comprehensive School, Leifo Iziko Secondary School
BOTHO
Hoërskool Wilgerivie, Hoërskool Hoopstad Skool, C&N Sekondêre Meisieskool Oranje, Hoërskool Witteberg, Hoërskool Jim Fouché, Hoërskool Trio High School, Welkom-Gimnasium Secondary School, Hoërskool Sentraal, Bethlehem Voortrekker High School, Hoêrskool Goudveld