Queens volleyball players to represent SA

Two pupils from Queens High School, Siyabonga Mbatha and Nelia Tembe, represented Gauteng at SA Schools Volleyball Championship during the July holidays.

At the tournament held in Durban, the pair was selected to represent South Africa later this year overseas.

Nelia started playing volleyball in 2014 for Queens High School. Her goal was to be selected as player of the year that year and through hard work she achieved her goal.

She was awarded player of the year in 2015 again. This was not enough for her, though, as she pushed to improve her skill. This year she was selected to represent Gauteng as the captain of the girls U/17 team and at the end of the tournament was awarded “Best Blocker of the Tournament”. This led to her selection for the South African girls U/18 team.

Nelia wants to study towards a law degree after completing her matric.

She advises all girls playing any sport that they should never look down on themselves.

“Girls should stick to what they do best. You must never let other people’s opinions bring you down,” she said.

“Siyabonga started playing volleyball in 2012 for Queens High School. He has played at a provincial level ever since and is very proud to say he has never let his team down. In 2013 he and his teammates played national games in Bloemfontein and won gold. He was then selected to play for the U/19 team where he took third place in Limpopo that year. In 2014 he was named the most valuable player,” said Queens High School educator Ms Jacqueline Carter.

“I picked up my first volleyball in 2011. I was still in primary school and I was doing it for marks. I was forced to play it and people encouraged me to play as I would represent South Africa one day. I also take part in athletics and soccer,” said Siyabonga.

In 2015 Siyabonga helped lead the Queens High School team to provincials where they won gold.

“2016 has been a very exciting year for me,” said Siyabonga.

He was nominated as the Male Athlete of the Year and went on to be announced as the Secondary Male Athlete of the Year at an awards ceremony held in March this year.

“It took a lot of hard work and dedication. A representative of the South African Volleyball Association approached me and told me that he wants to give me the opportunity to represent SA but initially I did not get my hopes up.”

Siyabonga has represented Gauteng seven times since 2012.

Over the years he accumulated 108 gold medals, eight silver medals and two bronze medals.

“You need to dream big and live your dreams in order to achieve your goals,” said Siyabonga.

“We are so proud of Nelia and Siyabonga and look forward to hearing more about their achievements in volleyball,” said Ms Carter.