Netball player catches the eye of SA selectors
Being in the South African team is amazing for the 17-year-old, as he has been playing the sport for only two years.
Brakpan’s Brandon van Wyk has been showing top quality in netball, so much so that he has represented South Africa.
He recently played for the country’s U19 side at the Tri-Nations indoor netball tournament in Australia.
“It was fantastic. I loved it and learned so much about netball. It was fun to play with my team against the other countries,” he said.
The tournament had the U19 teams also face the U23 teams in a mix of different age groups.
Being in the South African team is amazing for the 17-year-old, as he has been playing the sport for only two years.
“I have played outdoor netball for one year and then one year of action netball,” he said.
“I got into the sport when I was in grade seven. I saw my friends playing netball and then played for fun with them. I did not know that there could be more to that or that there was an action sport for men and we could play netball.
“I also did not know about the outdoor club close to where I stay. When I left Grade Seven. I played hockey until Grade 10. In Grade 10, my teacher, Nicole Gertenbach, told me her mother has a club, Netball Freakz, and I should join the training session one night to see how it goes.”
That is how Van Wyk got into competitive netball. Within a year, he was playing for Ekurhuleni.
“For fun with my friends, I also started an action indoor team to play in Benoni,” he said.
“Then I saw there were trials for the Super League, I tried it out and got selected for the B team. This year they selected me for the Super League U23 team and to play at U19 for South Africa.”
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The youngster points out that his dedication to the sport got him to where he was.
“I put so much effort into training every day and to become a South African player,” he told the Herald.
He played in about every position in the various teams where he plays.
“I’m an all-rounder,” said Van Wyk.
He also talked about his favourite part of the sport.
“I like to have fun and to join as one as a team. To know you can trust another person, whoever you pass the ball to,” he said.
Van Wyk also thanked his family and coaches who have supported him on the journey through his favourite sport.
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