The rise of Kingdom Stars
Local primary school teacher stars for KZN netball team.
THEY might have fallen agonisingly short of winning their promotion/relegation match, but the KwaZulu-Natal-based Kingdom Stars side has been the talk of the Brutal Fruit Premier Netball League, winning the Most Improved Team award after clinching the second division title.
The Durban-based team travelled to Pretoria recently to take part in the final of the NPL and managed to claim their division title as they trounced their bogey team the Eastern Aloes. However, the Stars were unable to gain promotion to the first division following their narrow two-point loss to the Golden Fireballs on Sunday.
Although the side tripped at the final hurdle, it has been an impressive tournament for the side from KwaZulu-Natal, which was named the Most Improved Team award at the final awards dinner on Sunday evening. There were a few players that managed to pick up individual awards as well.
Kingdom Stars captain and stalwart of the national team, Bongiwe Msomi, bagged the Best Defender of the Tournament. Msomi, who recently returned from the UK after a stint with Surrey Storm, coaches netball at Northlands Primary School.
Her teammate, Nokubonga Sibiya, picked up the Best Centre Court Player of the Tournament award, which meant that the pair, along with Precious Mtembu, were selected for the Spar Proteas team ahead of the upcoming Diamond Challenge.
The Kingdom Stars players have been doing all of their preparation for the tournament at the Prime Human Performance Institute, utilising the simulated altitude chamber to prepare themselves for the tournament in Pretoria. Msomi was only full of praise for the help that the team has been given.
“It is difficult for a lot of us to afford gym fees, and for the Department of Sport and Recreation and Prime to come on board to help us, it has been incredible,” a grateful Msomi said.
“To be able to have people who can help us and improve our strength and conditioning is great, and we really appreciate all the effort they put in. We have been able to see the results on the court this season and I just hope that the relationship will continue for the players who are coming up into the system,” she said.
