Hlabi Secondary School used their home ground to their advantage to secure a place in the Limpopo provincial final of the DStv Schools Netball Challenge (DSNC), powered by Bestmed.
The 2021 and 2023 national champions were one of 34 schools competing for a chance to represent the district at the provincial finals set from 5 to 6 June at Hoërskool Hans Strijdom in Modimolle.
Hlabi will be joined by Sebakanaga Secondary School and Jane Furse Comprehensive at the provincial level of the competition. Sebakanaga defeated Hlabi for the district title while Jane Furse came out on top in the third place match.
Sebakanaga captain, Karabo Sambo, is thrilled that they beat Hlabi in their backyard. She says they are excited to represent the district in Mookgophong and hopes to reach the national finals.
"I’m so ecstatic about the win. The game was tough but we managed to push till the end. We want to win again once we get to the provincial finals. I would really love to put my school’s name on the map because other kids are proud of their schools and I want to do the same for ours. Before I leave the school, I would like to contribute to having my school as one of the top schools in the province," says Sambo.
Hlabi coach, Sibusiso Masina, says his side wants to go back to the top of the competition, after missing out on the 2025 national finals edition.
“I feel quite happy about my team. They are doing very well, especially since we received the courts from MultiChoice. The courts have given us an advantage over the other schools. We must go back and work hard to ensure that we do well at the provincial finals. We want to go back to the nationals again. The girls just need to stay focused,” says Masina.
The DSNC is a platform that provides young athletes, from both rural and urban areas, an equal opportunity to showcase their talent on the national stage.