Local sportSport

Mynhardt appointed as TuksNetball’s new head coach

Former Proteas Netball star, Amanda Mynhardt, who led the first team of Afrikaans Hoër Meisieskool to new heights as coach, has been appointed to take over the reins at TuksNetball.

Former Protea captain Amanda Mynhardt will coach Tuks’ netball team this year.

She is no stranger to coaching circles. Under her leadership, the first team of the Afrikaanse Hoër Meisieskool was crowned national school champion four times (2016, 2019, 2023 and 2024). They have also won the Wildeklawer Tournament in Kimberley a few times.

When speaking to Mynhardt, it quickly becomes clear why Affies’ netball has gone from strength to strength under her leadership. Netball is her passion. As a coach, only one thing is important to her – each player must reach her full potential.

In December, while supposedly on holiday, she was already busy planning what needed to be done to ensure that Tuks’ netball teams stay at the top. According to her, this will happen if every player buys into her plans.

“I have a straightforward principle regarding coaching. Every player is unique. In other words, my coaching style is player-focused. I am a transformative coach. Coaching, for me, is not just about winning. I use netball as a tool to open doors for the players. Through the sport, they learn to be persistent and disciplined and to handle pressure. It is important to me that, in the end, they are the best version of themselves,” Mynhardt explained.

She is often asked about her winning record as a coach at Affies, but to her that is unimportant. She wants to discuss players’ success stories and how they overcame setbacks.

“The reality is that not everyone is going to become a top international player. Many players are going to rise in the professional world. Nothing is more special to me than when I meet a player ten years later, and they come and talk to me as successful people in life,” she remarked.

Amanda Mynhardt in action in her playing days.
Photo: Reg Caldecott

Mynhardt was eight when she first started playing netball. She was selected for the South African Schools Team at the end of her high school career.

As a senior player, she played 47 times for the Proteas. She played as a defender and from 2011 to 2014, she was also the national captain. Playing for South Africa at the 2010 Commonwealth Games and 2011 World Cup was a definite highlight.

“I wasn’t the biggest player in the circle, but I made up for what I lacked in height and explosiveness. I could jump incredibly high. As a player, I needed to find ways to be competitive in the circle. Netball is not just a sport for tall women,” she said.

Another highlight was being part of the SuperSport commentary team during the 2023 World Cup in South Africa.

“It was like coming a full circle because I have an honours degree in Corporate Communication Studies and Journalism,” she remarked.

Mynhardt enjoys trail running or participating in triathlons to relax.

“I’m also a big fan of the arts. That’s down to the journalist in me. I’m a big fan of music. All music. The one thing an artist and a coach have in common is creating something beautiful,” she concluded.

 

Do you have more information about the story?

Please send us an email to bennittb@rekord.co.za or phone us on 083 625 4114.

For free breaking and community news, visit Rekord’s websites: Rekord East

For more news and interesting articles, like Rekord on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram

At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
Stay in the know. Download the Caxton Local News Network App here.
Back to top button