POLOKWANE – Noorderland High School’s Tumisho Sako (16) has been recognised as the mid-court player of the tournament at the recent Tuks Netball Tournament held at Camp Discovery.

‘Flying Fish’ makes her mark on court

Nicknamed ‘Flying Fish’ for her speed on court, Tumisho impressed with her dynamic play in the mid-court positions.

She said the recognition came as a surprise given the high level of competition.

“It was hard, but we did it together. Had it not been for my team, I couldn’t have achieved this. In netball, you can’t shine alone, you need your team,” she said.

Tumisho plays at centre and wing attack, approaching each match with a determined mindset.

A journey that started in primary school

Her netball journey began in Gr 2 at Noordskool, where she developed her skills and progressed to become a reserve player for the first team by Gr 7.

Since then, she has continued to grow, earning an opportunity to represent Limpopo.

She said her love for the sport comes from its team-based nature.

“I like working with other people because it builds character. I enjoy being part of a team, even beyond sport,” she said.

Growth, pressure and looking ahead

Tumisho acknowledged that individual recognition brings added pressure, especially as other teams begin to focus on key players.

 “We have strong mid-court players and a solid defence, so we expect to be targeted in upcoming matches, but we are ready,” she said.

Looking ahead to the netball league, she said preparations are progressing well, with the team working on new combinations in defence, shooting and the mid-court to strengthen overall performance.