Gimmies aim for glory: Maartens confident of DSNC comeback

Potchefstroom Gimnasium goal defender, Twain Maartens believes her side have the ability to go back to the top of the DSTV Schools Netball Challenge (DSNC), powered by Bestmed Medical Scheme.

The North West side were the winners of the inaugural competition and managed to finish in the top four at last year’s edition. Gimmies clinched the third spot at the North West’s provincial finals and booked a ticket to the national finals of the DSNC. Hoërskool Rustenburg and Hoërskool Klerksdorp are the other two teams that will represent the Platinum Province in the Botho division at the 2025 national finals at the Hoërskool Dr. E.G. Jansen, Boksburg on 25-27 July.

While Kgaphamadi Secondary School and Ramotshere High School will compete in the Ubuntu stream at the national finals, Kgaphamadi defeated Ramotshere 27-17 to take the crown in their division.

The DSNC, a partnership between Multichoice and the SA Schools Netball (SASN), launched the tournament in 2021 and aims to shine the spotlight on the widely played women’s sport in the country. The tournament is divided into two streams, Botho and Ubuntu, offering an opportunity for schools from both urban and rural areas to experience the sport on the same level. The Netball Challenge has also been a platform for national coaches and selectors to spot and observe talent.

Gimmies took third place, defeating Hoër Volkskool Potchefstroom 35-21 to secure the last spot for the nationals. Hoërskool Rustenburg took gold after defeating Hoërskool Klerksdorp 35-15 in the Botho finals.

Maartens says she hopes to take gold in Boksburg and inspire the next generation of players at her school to dream big the same way the class of 2021 inspired her.

“If we pull through in the end, give our best, we can end up in a good position. Last year we ended fourth and our goal this year is to also get into the top five. If we work hard and push through at the nationals, it is doable. It would be amazing and monumental for Gimmies. We won it in 2021 and it would be a special moment because the girls that won that year were in matric and I looked up to them when I was in grade eight,” says Maartens.

QUALIFIED SCHOOLS

Botho

Hoërskool Rustenburg

Hoërskool Klerksdorp

Potchefstroom Gimnasium

Ubuntu

Kgaphamadi Secondary School

Ramotshere High School