Kwa-Thema – Nineteen-year-old Njabulo Lekhuleni is determined to take his netball career to the next level, with his sights set on one day representing South Africa in the Male Proteas squad.

Lekhuleni, from Kwa-Thema, started playing netball at the age of 17 after discovering that the sport was not only for women but also had a place for men.

He plays goal defence and goalkeeper, positions where he said he enjoys playing because they allow him to help his team stop opponents from scoring.

“What I enjoy about playing goal defence goalkeeper is being able to limit the number of goals scored against my team,” he said.

He shared that his journey in netball has not always been easy. Lekhuleni expressed that he initially doubted his abilities, but attending regular training sessions helped him grow in confidence and believe in himself.

“I felt like I was not good enough to play, but after attending more and more practice, it boosted my confidence,” he said.

He looks up to Sicelo Gamede, captain of the South African Men’s National Netball Team, as well as Njabulo Nekhavhambe, who plays defence positions like him.

Lekhuleni said Nekhavhambe’s performances motivate him to improve his own game and give his best for his team. For him, netball is about more than what happens on the court. He believes players must be mentally strong enough to deal with both good and bad performances.

“Some days, you perform exceptionally well, and some days you can perform poorly. Netball is a physical and mental sport, so you have to try by all means to ensure that the equation is balanced,” he said.

His faith has also played an important role in helping him face challenges along the way. Lekhuleni noted that involving God in the sport made it easier for him to overcome many challenges.

One match that stands out for Lekhuleni was against the Legends mixed team. After realising that their opponents had more experience, his team looked for ways to use their speed to their advantage while following their coach’s instructions.

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The strategy paid off, allowing them to perform well during the game. Away from matches, Lekhuleni shared that he puts in the work to improve his fitness and defensive skills.

He goes to the gym daily, runs for 10 minutes on the road and spends another 15 minutes running on the court. He also practises defensive exercises to improve his interception accuracy, with a personal target of defending at least five balls during training.

When he is not playing netball, he enjoys running in his spare time. Lekhuleni describes himself as kind, humble and disciplined.

He also credits the sport for bringing him a supportive family that continues to encourage him to pursue his goals.

As he works towards his dream of joining the Male Proteas, he hopes to be remembered as a player who gave everything on the court and refused to let challenges stand in his way.

His message to aspiring netball players is simple: “Good things take time. Even if you may start today to play netball, do not give up.”

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