Stage set for DSNC national finals

A total of 45 schools will descend to Gauteng for the DSTV Schools Netball Challenge (DSNC) national finals in July.

All nine provinces will be represented in the third annual competition where two schools will be crowned the best netball teams in the country.

The tournament saw over 30 000 players from around the country compete to get to the top of their respective provinces starting all the way from the district level.

The DSNC is a partnership between MultiChoice and SA Schools Netball (SASN) that offers a platform for players from all schools (urban and rural areas) to get to experience the sport on the same level. The relationship, now in its third year, aims to unearth, nurture and support the next generation of national netball players.

The competition is divided into two streams, Botho and Ubuntu, which offer an opportunity for the haves and have-nots to go to the top of the competition.

The competition moves to a new venue this year, the qualified teams will compete for national honours at Hoërskool Florida, Roodepoort from the 21 - 23 July. There have been four winners since the challenge was launched in 2021 and the Free State’s C&N Sekondêre Meisieskool Oranje and Eastern Cape’s KwaZakhele High School were last year’s champions.

In the last two years, the DSNC has proven to be a good place for national teams and the Telkom Netball League to source players. Just from last year’s finals, two players from the silver medallists Paarl Girls High School has seen two players compete in the country’s elite netball competition, the TNL. Renezia Andrews and Adri Carstens have had significant time on the court to help their side, the Western Cape Tornados to have a superior showing which sees them on top of Division Two.

Current Baby Proteas coach, Jenny van Dyk used the Gauteng leg of the provincial qualifiers to monitor players in her squad and look for new talent as well. Van Dyk alongside her assistant, Emily Mathosa will lead the junior national team at this year’s Commonwealth Youth Games will take place on the Islands of Trinidad and Tobago.

Qualified schools

Gauteng

Vosloorus Comprehensive School, Curro Academy Soshanguve High School, Tsosoloso Special School, and Phahama Secondary School will represent the province in the Ubuntu section. Hoërskool Menlopark, Helpmekaar Kollege, Afrikaanse Hoër Meisieskool and Hoërskool Waterkloof are in the Botho section.

Limpopo

Hoërskool Pietersburg and HTS Tom Naudé will represent Limpopo in the Botho section with the 2021 Ubuntu national winners, Hlabi Secondary School return to the competition together with Makgofe High School.

Northern Cape

Hoërskool Duineveld and Hoërskool Upington will play in the Botho section representing the Northern Cape and Veritas Sekondere Skool and Friersdale Intermediate School will be in the Ubuntu division.

Western Cape

Paarl Girls High School, Paarl Gimnasium, and Hoërskool Durbanville are in the Botho division while Khanyolwethu Secondary School and Desmond Mpilo Tutu Secondary School will play in the Ubuntu section.

North West

Hoërskool Rustenburg, Klerksdorp High School and Potchfestroom Gimnasium are in the Botho section while Kgaphamadi Secondary School, Sempapa Secondary School and Iketsleesto will play in Ubuntu.

KwaZulu-Natal

Shayamoya Area Secondary School and Gelofte Skool will represent KwaZulu-Natal in the Botho section while Khombindela High School and KwaVusumuzi High School will play in Ubuntu.

Eastern Cape

Hoërskool Framesby, Hoërskool Despatch and Hoërskool Grens will play in the Botho division Joe Slovo Senior Secondary School, Adelaide Gymnasuim and Humansdorp High School in the Ubuntu section.

Mpumalanga

Hoërskool Middelburg, Hoërskool Nelspruit, and Hoërskool Secunda qualified for the Botho section with Lambalati Secondary School, Hlomani Secondary, and Oasis College getting a place in the Ubuntu division.

Free State

C&N Sekondêre Meisieskool Oranje, Eunice High School and Hoërskool Sentraal will play in Botho while Ikaheng Zakheni Secondary School, Thakameso Comprehensive School, Bainsvlei Combined School are in the Ubuntu division.