Midrand Royals play friendly games with Clayville netball team

The Midrand Royals netball team played to an ecstatic crowd at the friendly against Clayville Netball Club at their base at Curro Sagewood in Midrand.

Games were held for the U11, U15 and U16 teams. The first game was played by the young players in a fiercely contested affair – with a lot of stop-and-go from the umpires.

Midrand Royals head coach Thato Pieterse said the friendly game was aimed at fostering camaraderie and sportsmanship within the local netball community.
She said both teams saw it as an opportunity to engage in friendly competition while strengthening bonds within the sport.

“In assessing the team overall across all divisions, I believe we witnessed a commendable display of skill, teamwork, and determination. Each division showcased its strengths and areas for improvement, contributing to the overall growth and development of the team. I am proud of my team’s performance during the friendly games. They exhibited resilience, adaptability, and a strong sense of sportsmanship throughout the matches,” said Pieterse.

She said the highest takeaway from the friendly games was the invaluable experience gained by the players as it provided learning opportunities, player growth, and building connections both on and off the court.

Clayville Netball Club coach Nthabeleng Molepo said she approached the Midrand Royal coach requesting a game and they agreed on a date.

Molepo said the kids are always in training and they needed to get some competitive game time. “I think their hard work was showing. Overall the team has grown so much in the years and they now understand good sportsmanship. That it has nothing to do with being talented – but commitment, dedication and determination will always prevail. I think their performance was good; we just need to fix a few problems like communication among the players and try to boost their lack of confidence.”

Related article: Midrand Royals netball team reopens 2024 with intense training session