Sisters Jamie and Kylie van Wyk of Northvilla, have both been glued to their television sets to watch the Proteas netball team topping their group at the Netball World Cup in Liverpool, England. Judging by the way their own respective netball careers are taking shape, both are likely to represent the Proteas at the next installment of the World Cup in 2023.
Jamie (18) and Kylie (16) were both selected for national representative teams at the recent u-19 National Championships in Cape Town.
It proved to be a double delight for the van Wyk family as Kylie (Ekurhuleni) was selected for the SA u-19 Development Team and just 24 hours later Jamie (Tshwane) cracked the nod for the SA u-19 squad and also walked away with the Player of the Tournament accolade.
The profile of netball in the country has grown significantly and Jamie played for the Gauteng Jaguars in the Telkom Premier Netball League, which allowed her the opportunity to play practice matches against the Proteas.
Kylie has a twin brother, Sean, who is also a very keen sportsman. He plays provincial hockey and cricket at school and club level. Both were recently awarded full colours in netball and hockey at St Dunstan’s College.
Both girls started playing team sports at a very young age and from there, recalled mom Julie, there was just no holding them back.
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Jamie is presently studying a Bachelor of Administration degree at the University of Pretoria (Tuks) and pointed out that she had been exposed to the rigors of academic and sporting pressure from a very young age. Kylie, similarly, has learned to hone her time management skills.
Both Kylie and Jamie place a high premium on quality time with family and friends when leisure time permits it.
“I have a very tight schedule involving team training, fitness, gym, tournaments and studies, but when I have free time I will spend it with family and friends,” said Jamie.
“I enjoy relaxing and watching movies with friends, as well as working out in the gym. My friends and family make me happy, so I enjoy just spending time with them,” added Kylie.
There is no semblance of sibling rivalry in the van Wyk household and they just feed off one another.
“Jamie has been an inspiration to me my whole life. There isn’t a better sporting mentor out there. She has so much humility and gives 200 per cent on the field. Watching her inspires me to improve my netball,” said Kylie.
Role of Honour:
Jamie van Wyk:
• Tshwane u-19 outdoor (National Championships) – Player of the Tournament
• SA u-19 squad 2019
• Tuks 1 USSA Tournament
• USSA squad to CUCSA 2020 – Africa Zone 6
• World Indoor Champs (SA u-15 Australia, SA u-17 captain)
• Gauteng Jaguars 2019 – Winners, Telkom League
• Gauteng Schools vice-captain – Grade 12 and SA u-18
• Eastern Gauteng Indoor – u-16, u-17 and u-21
• First team (outdoor) St Dunstan’s College – Grade Nine to 12
• Gauteng Schools – Grade Eight
Kylie van Wyk:
• Ekurhuleni Outdoor u-21 (National Champs)
• Ekurhuleni u-19 Outdoor (National Champs – Cape Town)
• SA u-19 Development Team
• Eastern Gauteng Indoor u-13, u-14, u-17
• St Dunstan’s first team from Grade 10
