Paarl Gimnasium and Leifo Iziko Combined School will represent South Africa at the International Youth Netball Challenge in Singapore this November, following their victories at the Kay Motsepe Schools Netball Championship Finals. The event, held at KONKA Adventurous Resort in Rustenburg, culminated on Saturday with both schools earning an all-expenses-paid trip to the prestigious international tournament.
The championship, sponsored by the Motsepe Foundation and Sanlam, brought together 36 schools from across South Africa’s nine provinces to compete in the under-15 tournament. The competition kicked off on Friday with a round-robin group stage, leading to a thrilling final on Saturday. Paarl Gimnasium, representing the Western Cape, secured a 14-6 victory over Pietersburg Hoerskool from Limpopo in the final. Meanwhile, Leifo Iziko Combined School from the Free State triumphed with a 14-11 win against Gauteng’s Bokamoso Secondary in the other final.
The schools were divided into two groups, Botho Stream and Ubuntu Stream, for the competition. After their win, Paarl Gimnasium coach Juline van der Merwe expressed excitement about the opportunity to represent South Africa in Singapore and extended gratitude to the event sponsors.
“It means a lot. We come from a competitive school, and we are very grateful for the opportunity that Paarl Gimnasium gives our girls to compete against the best,” Van der Merwe said. “We are thankful to be part of such a prestigious event. It’s an opportunity to play against the best in the country and to grow as players and as a coach.”
Leifo Iziko Combined School coach Molebatsi Mofokeng credited their success to the hard work they put in after finishing second in last year’s tournament. “We worked hard from the district levels, aiming to improve from last year,” Mofokeng said. “Coming from a township, this victory means a lot. The talent is there, and it means so much to see these young kids succeed.”
In addition to the top honors, Pietersburg Hoerskool and Bokamoso Secondary each received a R150,000 cheque for their runner-up finishes. Monument High School from Gauteng and Chiawelo High School from Limpopo, who finished third in their respective streams, were awarded R100,000 each. The funds will be used to upgrade netball facilities at their schools.
Sanlam CEO Bongani Madikiza emphasized the importance of providing opportunities for young athletes. “Sanlam believes that sport provides equal opportunities for kids, helping to build a future society we can all be proud of,” Madikiza said. “We’re committed to giving opportunities to young children, and we’re excited to see talent growing for the future.”
Di Wooley, Chairperson of SA Schools Netball, also praised the success of the tournament. “The event went incredibly well, with great weather and high spirits,” Wooley said. “It’s important that we have representation from the entire country, as this is a national championship.”
As Paarl Gimnasium and Leifo Iziko prepare to represent South Africa on the international stage, their achievements highlight the growing talent and dedication within the country’s youth netball community.
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