Unseasonal rain can't dampen spirits as fierce battle for DSNC titles began

The unusual weather was not enough to deter young players from showing their best on the court on the opening day of the DSTV Schools Netball Challenge (DSNC), powered by Bestmed Medical Scheme, national finals.

About 50 schools gathered at the Hoërskool Dr. E.G. Jansen in Boksburg, Johannesburg, to fight for the coveted titles of the best netball school in South Africa. The event saw guests such as former Spar Proteas coach, Dorette Badenhorst, former Springboks star Victor Matfield and five Baby Spar Proteas who will represent South Africa at the Netball World Youth Cup later in the year. Including Jade Atkins and Mbali Diphoko who both played at last year’s national finals.

The Netball Challenge, which is a partnership between Multichoice and the South African Schools Netball (SASN), was launched in 2021 with the aim of shining a light on all netball players across the country in the Under-19 division.

The competition targets players from rural and urban players and gives them a platform to experience the sport on an equal platform and an opportunity to showcase their talent on the national stage. The competition has also become a platform for national coaches and selectors to spot and observe talent.

The DSNC is divided into two streams, Botho and Ubuntu. The competition has also become a platform for national coaches and selectors to spot and observe talent.

Hoër Tegniese Skool Middelburg (HTSM) was impressive in the group stages of the competition, winning all four matches to finish on top of Group G. They defeated Nomzamo High School, Diepdale High School, Klerksdorp Hoërskool, and Bukit Jalil of Malaysia to go top of their group. They are guaranteed a move to the knockout stages of the Botho stream with the hope of making it to the final, even though they are left with one group match.

HTSM wing attack Andile Mabena says the change in their coaching has contributed a lot to the improvement they displayed on the first day of the nationals.

She says her team has come for the gold medal this year.

“The competition is tough. There is a lot of competition. There are a lot of talented girls here, but I feel like what is working for us is sticking to our game plans, listening, and not losing each other. If someone makes a mistake, we pick them up and continue playing the game. The way we were being coached has changed. We have found new ways of being coached, new strategies, and working on our fitness levels. I just hope my team and I play our hearts out, if it is meant to be, we will get a medal. We are here for the gold medal,” says Mabena.

The adverse weather forced the last two rounds of matches to be moved to Saturday morning. However, schools like Shayamoya High School, Afrikaanse Hoër Meisieskool Pretoria, and C&N Sekondêre Meisieskool Oranje have also confirmed a place in the Botho knockout round. At the same time, Nomzamo High School, Leifo Iziko Secondary School, and Kgaphamadi Secondary School will also move to the next round in the Ubuntu division.