Ikaheng Zakheni Secondary School’s goal defender Mpati Motshoeneng says she hopes the school will go to the top of the podium at this year’s national finals of the DStv Schools Netball Challenge (DSNC), powered by Bestmed Medical Scheme.
Ikaheng and Tlotlisong Secondary School will be representing the Free State at this year’s nationals scheduled for 23 to 25 July at the Hoërskool Dr EG Jansen in Boksburg.
This will be the sixth edition of the tournament, which was launched in 2021 aimed at uncovering and nurturing young talent across the country while providing an equal footing for players from all backgrounds.
The competition is divided into two streams, Botho and Ubuntu, for schools in both rural and urban areas, providing an equal opportunity to showcase their talent on a national stage.
Motshoeneng’s school was part of the coaching clinics conducted by former Spar Proteas goalkeeper Phumza Maweni in the Free State.
This was the third edition of the clinics, Limpopo, and KwaZulu-Natal are the other provinces that experienced the sessions.
The Northern Cape will host the last round on Friday. The clinics are the DSNC’s effort to help prepare schools from the Ubuntu stream for the nationals.
'PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT'
The Mamafubedu-based school is looking to improve on their 2023 position where they took the bronze medal.
The school will be competing in their fourth DSNC national finals and Motshoeneng believes this is the year they will bag the title.
“Practice makes perfect and I think we will be able to perform the way we were taught. This year we are going for the No 1 spot. We have been there before and we have the experience of the tournament. We know that when you are there it is a matter of do or die. This year we are hoping for position one. We will be making not only our parents proud but the whole province,” says Motshoeneng.
Tlotlisong’s Dimakatso Hlaudi says the lessons from Maweni will be important in how the team prepares for the nationals and how the players will navigate life and sport. She adds that the clinic has given her team the confidence to go for the Ubuntu title.
“Phumza is my role model and I was happy to meet her. Her sessions were fun and enjoyable. She made it easier for us to learn as well. I also learnt that even when one is going through some hardships, things can turn around and you can get exposed to opportunities that can change your life. The sessions were good for me and my team. I think I have seen the improvement in the way they move on the court, their skills and the way of communicating better. I see a huge potential for us, that we are going to make it to international stage someday,” says Hlaudi.