Paarl Gimnasium and Leifo Iziko Combined School emerged victorious in the U/15 Kay Motsepe Schools Netball Championship Finals on 17 August 2024. This victory has secured the two local teams an all-expenses paid trip to represent South Africa at the November International Youth Netball Challenge in Singapore.
From local triumph to global stage
The local competition, sponsored by Sanlam and the Motsepe Foundation, was held at KONKA Adventure Resort in Rustenburg, where 36 schools representing all nine provinces participated in the U/15 tournament.
The final championship results were:
- Girls’ final: Paarl Gimnasium (Western Cape) defeated Pietersburg Hoerskool (Limpopo) 14-6.
- Boys’ final: Leifo Iziko Combined School (Free State) triumphed over Bokamoso Secondary (Gauteng) 14-11.
The two South African teams will now head to the International Youth Netball Challenge (IYNC) in Singapore, organised annually by the Singapore Sports School Netball Academy. The event brings together teams from netball powerhouses like Australia, South Africa, Hong Kong and Malaysia, offering young athletes’ valuable exposure to high-level international competition.
Juline van der Merwe, Paarl Gimnasium coach, said they are excited to represent the country and thanked Motsepe Foundation and Sanlam for the opportunity. “We are very grateful for the opportunity the Kay Motsepe Netball Challenge gives our girls to compete against the best. This was an opportunity to play against the best in the country and grow as players and coaches, so it means a lot to us.”
Molebatsi Mofokeng, Leifo Iziko Combined School coach, said this result stems from the team’s hard work after finishing second last year. “We worked hard from district levels to the provincial stages where we claimed the number one spot. So, we came here prepared. This victory means a lot, especially coming from a township. Although these are small kids, the talent is there, you can see.”
Additional awards
The Kay Motsepe Schools Netball Championship did more than celebrate the winners. It also recognised and supported other top-performing teams, demonstrating a commitment to developing netball across South Africa. These included:
- Runners-up Pietersburg Hoerskool and Bokamoso Secondary, each receiving R150 000.
- Third-place finishers Monument High School (Gauteng) and Chiawelo High School (Limpopo) were awarded R100 000 each.
The schools said they would use these funds to upgrade their netball facilities.
Chairperson of SA Schools Netball Di Wooley praised the event’s outcome, saying, “The tournament went incredibly well and spirits were high. So, I think it is important that we have the whole country here because this is the national championship, and it is important that everybody is represented.”
Reflecting on the championship’s broader impact, Madikiza concludes, “The Kay Motsepe Schools Netball Championship plays a crucial role in South Africa’s sports development landscape and youth empowerment initiatives. This grassroots-level competition is instrumental in identifying and cultivating future stars, contributing to the strength of South African netball on the international stage.”
Netball fans, teachers, and parents can go to www.kaymotsepe.com or Facebook: Kay Motsepe Schools Championship / Instagram: @kaymotsepeschoolschampionship, for more information on the Kay Motsepe Schools Championships.
Hashtag: #SanlamSport #KMSC #KayMotsepeSchoolsChampionship
DID YOU KNOW?
The Kay Motsepe Schools Championship is an annual event that brings together school teams from across South Africa to compete in various sports, fostering youth development, leadership, and community engagement. Sponsored by Sanlam in partnership with the Motsepe Foundation, the championship aims to empower young athletes by providing them with a platform to showcase their talents and cultivate essential life skills.
INFO SUPPLIED.
