Netball player has big dreams
Jade Egwatu has been chosen as one of the players of the South Africa schools team.
Jade Egwatu is a goal attacker from Hoërskool Dinamika and she has recently been chosen to be part of the South Africa netball schools team.
Players chosen for the team will travel to Malawi in December for a competition.
“I got chosen in the Top 35 in my age group and then went on to train with the older age group, and from there I made the SA squad at the Gauteng tournament we recently participated in,” she explained.
For the love of netball
Netball has been part of her life since she was seven years old. “I have never stopped playing netball and it has been 12 years.”
Her big love for the sport has kept on growing. Egwatu enjoys playing goal attacker because it allows her to do a little bit of everything on the court.
“The best part of netball is travelling all around South Africa with the people. I get to travel with teammates who I love and I get to meet so many new people.”
Challenges for her include recovering from an injury she got while playing netball. “I think for me coming back from my injury last year was a big challenge. Physically and mentally I had to train myself to be the player I was and am.”
Netball achievements she is proud of are making the Top 35 in SA two years in a row, playing Gauteng netball for the last five years, and being nominated to go to the Gauteng awards evening.
“It is amazing being chosen for the national school’s team and I am very honoured and excited for the challenges ahead,” she said.
More about her
Egwatu was born and raised in Johannesburg. She grew up with her brother and two sisters who she adores and loves.
She attended Kenton Primary School before starting her high school career at Hoërskool Dinamika.
When she is not on the netball court she enjoys spending quality time with her loved ones. “I also play indoor and social netball, but another sport that excites me is basketball. So whenever I get the chance, I play basketball.”
Her grandmother is her biggest inspiration in life. “She is the strongest woman I know and will do anything she puts her mind to. I want to be just like her one day,” said Egwatu.
It is her dream to play professional netball one day. “I want to make it my mission to become a professional netball player.”
A motto she lives by is: “If it’s easy, it’s not worth it.”
A grateful heart
“First of all, thank you to my head coach Karen Bezuidenhoudt and assistant coach Rika Bezuidenhoudt for pushing me to my limits and always supporting me.”
She also wants to thank TotalNet and her club coach Miss T for developing her into the player she is today.
“And then, of course, thank you to my biggest supporters who are my parents, my siblings and my aunt. They are the reason I am where I am, and they are the true backbone behind my success,” she concluded.
