Gauteng recently wrapped up the DStv Schools Netball Challenge (DSNC) coaching clinics series, powered by Bestmed Medical Scheme and in partnership with Puma. These four-part training sessions targeted schools preparing for the upcoming DSNC national finals on 25–26 July at Hoërskool Dr. E.G. Jansen in Boksburg. Similar sessions were held in Western Cape, KwaZulu Natal, and Limpopo.
The clinics, a collaboration between German sports apparel giant Puma and Multichoice, focused on helping schools from the Ubuntu stream sharpen their skills ahead of the national competition. The DSNC itself is a joint initiative between Multichoice and South African Schools Netball (SASN).
Baby Proteas centre Karla Victor and Gauteng Golden Fireballs assistant coach Nomsa Zungu led the sessions for four schools from Gauteng and Mpumalanga. These schools — Tswelopele Secondary, Kgetsiyatsie Secondary, Diepdale Secondary (all Gauteng), and Chief Ampie Mayisa Secondary (Mpumalanga) — will compete in their first DSNC national finals, with a combined group of 37 players.
Karla Victor, who helped C&N Sekondêre Meisieskool Oranje win the 2022 DSNC Botho title, shared her insight on the importance of these clinics:
“I think it’s important for us professional players to share our knowledge so that they can improve their skills and pass what they learn on to other players in their schools. We worked hard to win that tournament, and Karla Pretorius helped us with our defence. We put in the effort and hours,” she said.
Nomsa Zungu praised the players’ enthusiasm and willingness to learn. She expressed gratitude for the opportunity to coach grassroots athletes:
“These kids are talented, and you can see that their coaches are coaching them. Some of the players are like sponges, eager to absorb every correction and instruction. They are keen and hungry to learn. I’m honoured to be coaching at this level because I’m used to high performance,” said Zungu.
From the players’ perspective, Diepdale goal shooter Ntando Mbatha described the clinics as eye-opening:
“I learnt that teamwork is the most important thing in the sport. As teammates, we need to support each other, not give up, and be responsible. It was nice to be trained by new people — we learned things we didn’t know before,” Mbatha said.
Kgetsiyatsie’s Onkatlile Maponya believes the sessions will boost their performance at the nationals after securing bronze at the Gauteng provincial finals:
“The session was fun and productive. I hope it helps us at the nationals. I learnt that we have to work as a team and improve our attitudes toward the game and each other. When things get tough, we usually drop our heads, but today we learnt to fight to the end and play for each other,” Maponya concluded.
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