Multichoice CSI Manager for sports programmes, Sandile Luthuli, is pleased with the overall outcome of the recently concluded DStv Schools Netball Challenge (DSNC), powered by Bestmed Medical Scheme, in association with Puma coaching clinics.
The four-part series of training sessions were aimed at schools participating in the Netball Challenge national finals, set for 25-26 July at Hoërskool Dr E.G. Jansen in Boksburg.
Gauteng, Western Cape, KwaZulu Natal and Limpopo are the provinces that held the coaching clinics with 10 schools participating.
The sessions are a partnership between the leading German sports apparel, Puma, and Multichoice to help prepare schools from the Ubuntu stream before the DSNC national finals.
The DSNC is a partnership between Multichoice and the South African Schools Netball (SASN).
Luthuli says their aim to inspire and prepare the teams ahead of the nationals has been achieved.
He believes the programme will reach more girls when it gets rolled out throughout the whole country.
“Our objective is to inspire these kids as we lead up to the nationals and assist them in raising their level of the game. This is the start of a beautiful thing. We were only able to reach out to four provinces and next year we aim to go bigger and better to find ourselves in all the nine provinces. Ensuring that we are able to react to the girls in far-flung areas. The players themselves were inspired and some of the kids were still pinching themselves. Those are the memories they will hold for a long time. These are the memories that are going to drive them to want to get to the level where Bongiwe, Owethu, or Karla are,” says Luthuli.
He stresses that it was important to remind the girls that their dreams are not only valid but also tangible.
“As much as the tournament is played in Joburg and a lot of the (provincial) finals are centred in major cities, our reach is nationwide. We saw it fit to go and inspire you in your environment. Drill it in you that if you are at Kayamandi informal settlement and your dream is to play netball, your dream is valid and it can come true. Puma saw that vision and we were able to devise these clinics with them. Our approach with all our development programmes is a holistic one where our development centres off and on the field. We were lucky enough to find Bestmed as a partner, who saw our vision. We were also able to find the partner in Puma who saw the vision and understood the objective,” he says
The Sports Sponsorship Coordinator at Puma South Africa, Nandi Buthelezi is happy with the outcome of the clinics.
“It was an incredible experience, being with the girls and seeing our ambassadors being part of this, seeing how much it means to them. The highlight for me was Fifi’s one when we were in Kokstad which is her hometown, for her to inspire so many athletes that want to get to her level. This was very special.
“Collaborating with the DStv Schools Netball Challenge is a chance to get involved in grassroots netball. We are very much involved in high-performance setups, nationally, and with the athletes that we look after. Many of them come from pipelines like the DStv Schools Netball Challenge where they were scouted and now they are seen on big and world stages of netball,” says Buthelezi.