The road to becoming a superstar begins with a little seed, a dream and sometimes a nudge in the right direction.
The DStv Schools Netball Challenge (DSNC), powered by Bestmed Medical Scheme, has provided a platform for many girls from around the country to compete at a high level and some have gone on to represent the country at international level.
It took some convincing from her father, Mzwamandla Hlongwana, to nudge Baby Spar Proteas goal shooter Mbali Diphoko to take up the sport. Her height looked like something her primary school, 7 Fountains, could use, but the lanky attacker wasn’t really keen. Until her father told her to give it a try as she didn’t really have much to lose. She tried it and was hooked.
Diphoko was part of the Shayamoya Area Secondary School squad that stunned many at the DSNC national finals in 2024. Shayamoya are not a typical Botho school; they come from a disadvantaged area in Kokstad in KwaZulu-Natal. Their appearance in the 2024 edition was spectacular; they lost only two matches, including to eventual champions Afrikaanse Hoër Meisieskool Pretoria in the group stages. They beat the more established Hoërskool Brandwag, Hoërskool Secunda and Paarl Girls' High to secure fifth position in the overall standings.
GREAT FOR IMPROVING
Diphoko says finishing fifth for the first time is her most memorable moment in the Challenge.
"What I like most about the competition is that it helps you grow, especially when you’re playing against predominantly white schools. I think this competition is great for improving one’s game. The most memorable edition for me was my last year, even though we didn’t finish on the podium, it was a great season.
"We had a good time and we played really well. It was the first time we finished in the top five and that was an achievement for us. We were a black school and not a lot of people believed we could do well. It’s my favourite memory that we finished higher than people expected us to," says Diphoko.
After trying a number of sports, Proteas player Kyla Dames found netball to be the perfect fit. Her school, Paarl Girls' High School, has come close to the national title twice. She was part of the team that took home the silver medal in the 2022 edition after her side lost to C&N Sekondêre Meisieskool Oranje. Dames says the DSNC is a great platform for players who would not ordinarily be seen by coaches and scouts from university institutions or the national teams.
"It contributes a great deal. I think the exposure the girls and the schools get is not something that they get all the time. It is a great platform for players and teams to get noticed and for them to grow. DStv gives the schools the chance to achieve that," says Dames.
Dames shared her most memorable events in the DSNC.
"I loved travelling with my team from the Western Cape to Gauteng, how the whole tournament is set up and all the fun we had, definitely stepping on court and playing a very high level of netball.
"I remember in my Grade 11 year in 2022, we played (Hoërskool) Menlopark in the semifinals and we beat them in extra time. It was amazing for our team. We were so tired, but that unity we had and backing up each other really made it worth it," added Dames.
FRIENDS FOR LIFE
Jade Atkins’ journey in netball was destined for the best. She started playing netball at seven years old and in the form of her grandmother, Bridget van Niekerk, a former player herself, she had a personal coach.
Her journey was not without any challenges though. In 2024, when she celebrated her 200th game for La Rochelle Girls' High School and represented the Baby Proteas, she got injured and had to undergo knee surgery.
Atkins says she is grateful for the friendships and connections she formed throughout her DSNC journey.
"I’ve played in the DStv Schools Netball Challenge since I was in grade 9, playing for my school’s first team and honestly the best memories are the amount of friends that you make at the tournament from other schools. I was playing for La Rochelle, which is in Cape Town and all those players I used to play against at school, I’m now friends with them in Pretoria. Those are the best memories that I have made," said Atkins.