Winnie Mandela Primary team wins netball tournament

Winnie Mandela Primary School’s netball team celebrates their milestone of winning their first major trophy, alongside an R10 000 voucher, in a thrilling victory.

The girls, led by coaches Mantume Alinah Moerane and Kamogelo Molokomme, lifted the enormous trophy in a moment described as a dream come true.

The event was part of an initiative where coaches attended various district workshops to enhance their coaching skills.

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This hands-on training allowed them to develop players as young as eight years, moulding them into outstanding netball players.

Under the guidance of Moerane and Molokomme, the team has achieved remarkable success by winning the PEP mini netball in 2022 and the district league in the 2023/24 season.

The girls’ hard work paid off after attending a specialised training clinic organised by Thembisa Netball in 2023, where they trained with coaches from New Zealand ahead of the Netball World Cup.

This experience further sharpened their skills and prepared them for competition.

Reflecting on their journey, Moerane and Molokomme shared that the challenges faced during the match made their victory even sweeter.

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“The heatwave on the day was one of the biggest challenges,” said Moerane.

“With a team of 10 players, it was important to rotate them frequently, ensuring everyone stayed hydrated and got a chance to play. To keep the game fast-paced and intensify our play, we rotated positions.

“For example, when the centre got tired, we moved them to the wing attack or goal attack positions, which allowed us to change the tempo and outpace our opponents.”

The team’s tactical approach paid off, taking advantage of their opponents’ inability to rotate players effectively.
“Our girls could keep up with the faster pace, while other teams struggled,” explained coach Molokomme.

“The work ethic they put in every week is inspiring, and we are excited to see them grow in the sport. We hope to see them play for provincial and national teams.”

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With the final exams approaching, the team will not participate in events for the remainder of the year.

However, the coaches have already begun recruiting new players for next season.

“Recruiting for next year’s team is crucial, and we want to assess the strength and cohesiveness of the players,” said Moerane.

“We know success in sports comes from consistent teamwork and that drives our results.”

The Winnie Mandela Primary netball team has shown incredible tenacity and teamwork, and the future looks bright for these young athletes.