WR Netball shines at national champs
West Rand Netball makes history with three teams qualifying for the semi-finals at the SPAR National Netball Championships.
The highly anticipated SPAR National Netball Championships welcomed players from across the country to go head-to-head in a series of matches at Ellis Park Arena. from December 1 to 7.
From December 1 to 7, a total of 2 400 participants from 52 districts across the country participated against one another with 65 teams in the senior category and 44 teams in the U21 category.
For the first time, West Rand (WR) Netball proudly sent four full teams to the champs, consisting of senior A and B teams, as well as the U21 A and B teams, who worked tirelessly to prepare for this moment.
WR chairperson Dukies Mokaila shared the importance of their journey to the champs, highlighting the passion and hard work each player brought during their practice sessions.
“I want to extend a special thank you to all the players who participated in our programme this year. Having players from these different areas represent us at the champs is a testament to the impact of our efforts.
“We’re grateful for the support from the Department of Sports and the Dukies Mokaila Foundation, who assisted us in launching our rural programme this year. We’re excited to see the growth and development of this programme in the years to come,” Dukies adds.
The first day of the champs started with a bang with all four teams securing a win, cementing their place at the top of the log, but the work was still not complete until the last whistle.
As the days progressed, there were some wins and some losses, but the teams kept their heads held high, and fortunately three out of the four teams qualified for the semi-finals.
The WR U21 A team fought a tough battle with the stakes high in the first two quarters as they won 39–31 against Sekhukhune in their semi-final, while their B team suffered a loss of 42–31 against Nkangala B.
The senior A team placed fourth after a 35–47 loss against the OR Tambo team, while their B team placed eighth and played their hearts out, securing a win against Amajuba with a score of 42–43.
“We’re proud of our team’s journey to the championships, earning silver and bronze medals. Our players’ hard work, dedication, and perseverance have made a positive impact. We’re grateful to everyone involved and will continue striving for excellence,” Dukies said.
