The local team took the crown in the senior B1 category after beating King Cetshwayo District Municipality 43-35 in the finals recently in Bela Bela.

The win gives them an opportunity to play in the A3 professional league.

Coach Joseph Nkuna told the Herald that the team will still have to decide if they will remain in the B1 group or move to Section A.

Last year Mopani was crowned champion in the B3 group, after winning all seven games they played during the tournament.

Local players, Shongile Hlungwana, Sibongile Shiburi and Theoner Mthombeni form part of the players who were selected to attend the national squad activities next year.

Hlungwana told the Herald that she is excited to have been selected and she is grateful to God.

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“I wasn’t sure that I would make the cut, I was doubting myself, because of previous misfortunes.

“However I believe in God’s timing and that indeed at the right time he makes things happen.

“So all credit goes to my creator and I’m ecstatic to be recognised as one of the best players in the country,” she explained.

2020 has been a great year for Hlungwana.

In October she was one of the shining stars at the Telkom Netball National Championships in Bloemfontein.

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She walked away with four awards including two Best Player of the Match awards and two Twizza Moment of the Match awards.

Coach Nkuna said he is pleased with the commitment and dedication his girls showed despite the short period to train and prepare.

He thanked the Mopani District Municipality for paying for their accomodation and the provincial sport, arts and culture department for paying for their transport.

He however called on government to assist the team in future events.

“We had to pay for our own apparel and everything else that was needed in the games, we need more support from government,” Nkuna concluded.