The 2023 Mayoral Netball Cup warms chilly morning at Brixton Multipurpose Centre
The cup's intention was to build excitement around the Netball World Cup held in Cape Town.
Netball players from various regions gathered on a cold morning at the Brixton Multipurpose Centre to compete in the much-anticipated Mayoral Cup-Netball 2023 tournament.
The event, hosted by the member of the MMC for Community Development, Lubabalo Magwentshu, took place recently and was aimed at creating a buzz among locals in preparation for the Netball World Cup hosted in Cape Town from July 28 to August 6.
The day started with a briefing by the Department of Sports and Recreation which provided participants with all the necessary information about the tournament proceedings.
Magwentshu shared some words of encouragement with players who were itching to hit the court and emphasised the significance of the Mayoral Cup in generating enthusiasm for the Netball World Cup 2023.
South Africa’s privilege of hosting the Netball World Cup for the first time added to the historic importance of the tournament.
Magwentshu highlighted his priority of putting the spotlight on women’s sports codes since taking office, starting with netball, to garner the attention and support it deserves. He also emphasised the need to host such tournaments to raise awareness as women’s sports often did not receive the attention, sponsorships and equal pay as men’s sporting codes.
Lindi Mgweba, a referee of the sport and part of the Johannesburg Netball Association, expressed her appreciation for the opportunity, recognising the tournament was a crucial developmental step towards the growth of netball.
“The tournament not only provides a platform for the players to showcase their talents but also allowed them to understand their roles and the rules better,” said Mgweba. She commended the presence of the Community Development Department, reinforcing the importance of such events in fostering sportsmanship and unity in the community.
The victorious coach of the winning team from Region D1, Tshepang Malapile, shared her journey from player to coach and expressed her gratitude for being a part of the tournament.
She acknowledged that winning was not easy as it required hard work, disciplined training, and determination to overcome diverse challenges, including unpredictable weather conditions. The coach credited her technical team for its invaluable support in achieving success.
As the sun set on the local event, the passion and determination of the talented netball players set a glowing example for the community. This historic event served as a stepping stone towards embracing women’s sports and reinforced the significance of the Netball World Cup.
The winners of the tournament were:
- First position – Region D1 (Platinum medals for Mayoral Cup)
- Second position – Region F (Gold Medals)
- Third position – Region G (Silver Medals).
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