The provincial rounds of the DStv Schools Netball Challenge (DSNC) kick off this weekend. The Western Cape and KwaZulu Natal are the first to host this round of the competition.
Parel Vallei High School in Somerset West will be a hive of activity when the Western Cape hosts the provincial finals. FIfteen schools will be vying for the top four places in the next round of the competition.
The DSNC is in its third year and it is a partnership between Multichoice and South African Schools Netball that offers a platform for players from all schools (urban and rural areas) to get to experience the sport on the same level.
The competition starts from the district level up to the national. 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.
Qualifying schools from both the Ubuntu and Botho streams will represent their respective provinces at the National Finals on the 21 - 23 July to be hosted at Hoërskool Florida, Roodepoort.
Western Cape Project Coordinator Petrusa Marais says the province is looking forward to yet another successful provincial round of the competition.
“I think we have good organisers and at the venue itself. Our schools are quite strong as compared to the rest of South Africa, I have good hope that we will do well this year,” says Marais.
The tournament is a perfect springboard for players moving from high school netball to club and provincial teams. Last year’s finalist Paarl Girls' High School has produced players who are now competing in the premier division of netball in the country, the Telkom Netball League.
CHANGED THE PERSPECTIVE OF YOUNG PLAYERS
Renezia Andrews and Adri Carstens, who were silver medallists at last year’s competition, play for the Western Cape Tornados in Division Two of the TNL. Carstens has already produced two Player of the Match in this campaign.
“That was challenging but it was an amazing experience, not just the netball but the people we met there. I am friends with most of them. It’s a very stiff tournament, it’s one of the best tournaments to be able to play in at school level. I think it is important because it builds up to where you want to be someday. If you see yourself playing netball at a high level, the games that you play at the school level have a big impact. It’s important for players, even as young as Grade One, to get used to that feeling of pressure and playing together as a team,” says Carstens.
Meanwhile, in KwaZulu Natal, 16 schools take to the courts for top honours in the province. The top two schools from both divisions will proceed to the national finals. on
KZN Schools Netball secretary, Thembi Mlotshwa says the province is looking forward to exciting and competitive netball.
“Things are looking good. The preparations are coming well. We have had playoffs for every other tournament, for the whole month of May and now it’s time for the big one, the Under-19s. Those are our senior girls and we are looking forward to it. I think there is just the excitement and all the schools are excited about it. We are prepared for it, it’s just that we’ve had playoffs four weekends in a row, so it’s been busy,” says Mlotshwa.
Mlotshwa says the competition has changed the perspective of young players in the province to aspire to get to the national and international level of the sport.
“It definitely has brought a lot of change and a lot of excitement. You can even see the Ubuntu teams are really growing and their netball is getting better. Last year the winning schools had the opportunity to train with the (KwaZulu Natal) Kingdom Stars which is the cherry on top for the girls, they really loved the sessions. In terms of being on TV, I think every child wants to be on TV. It’s one of those proud moments for the girls. Everyone is looking forward to that, we can’t wait,” she says.