Alberton high netball player (17) chosen for Gauteng squad

From as young as age six, sport has always suited Bontle Bonoyi.

She was recently chosen for the u-18 GSS Gauteng team as a wing attacker.

This comes after the 17-year-old participated in a set of trials, qualifying for the team. She will participate in the Telkom Challenge during the October school holidays.

Love for sport

Her journey into the sports world started at a tender age. From nursery school, she would normally be at the front of most races. In every sporting event that was held, she was there.

“That continued into primary school where I was exposed to more specific and enticing sporting codes. There was athletics, hockey, cross-country, but the one that stole my heart was definitely netball,” she said.

For Bonoyi, netball is a sport that allows her to develop herself physically, emotionally and mentally.

“I played various positions in primary school for our netball team, such as centre, wing attack, wing defence and others. When my primary school journey ended, I played for the first team of our school, General Alberts Primary School,” said Bonoyi.

As she began her high school journey, her netball journey also continued.

“I played for the A-team for the u-14, coached by former teacher Miss Zellie. Our team was selected to participate in the town trials, which if you played really well, you would advance to the next round, being the City of Ekurhuleni trials,” she said.

With her talent and skillful tactics, she was chosen as one of the players who were selected to those trials.

Reaching greater heights

She then advanced to the next round, district trials, which led her advancing to the first and second rounds of the Gauteng trials.

In 2018 and 2019, Bonoyi attended the same trials as the previous years and made the respective teams to represent Gauteng in the All Ages Tournament.

“Unfortunately, in 2020 amid trials and due to the outbreak of the pandemic, the trials were cancelled. This resulted in my trials journey that year to be short-lived. My sport journey is definitely one that I will never forget,” she said.

She told the RECORD she is grateful for qualifying for the Gauteng squad and thanked her teachers and coaches for their continuous support.