A recognisable black braided ponytail moves in motion on the netball court as an extension of the hyper-active presence that NWU’s netball star, Didintle Keebine, exhibits from the first to last whistle.
Didi, as Keebine is affectionately known, is one of the NWU’s most experienced players in the first team netball set up and has a long list of accolades that rival any student netball player in the country.
Keebine is part of the Proteas senior squad for the current season, a former SA u.21 player, North West Flames regular and a part of the SA USSA squad in 2019/20, to name just a few.
Above all, God’s grace and blessings have shaped her into the person she is today.
“My passion for sports is an inborn thing. I was seven years old when I got involved in sports, both netball and athletics. By God’s grace, I excelled in both sports for six years, from the age of 13, provincially and nationally. It was when I enrolled at North-West University that I chose netball over athletics,” she explains.
Every netball fan on campus can agree that Keebine made the right choice as her performances have taken the team to success nationally, with a recent superb 2019 USSA Championship victory.
“Being part of the NWU has been one of the great blessings. I got to work with one of the best coaches and they’ve truly had an impact on the player I am today. I’ve had the opportunity to compete at the highest levels and been taken to places I couldn’t even take myself,” she adds.
Keebine has played all around the court but states that wing defence (WD) is her preferred position.
“Throughout primary and high school, I specialised in GA, though there would be times when I was moved to GD/GK because my height was an advantage.”
Keebine was born in Mafikeng but currently resides in Midrand. She feels that being selected for the u.18 squad and Baby Proteas (SA u.21) were some of her most significant highlights. But she knows there is still more on the horizon.
“I’ve been selected for the 2019/2020 Protea Squad and that motivates me even more because I know I’m one step closer to my dream. The short-term goals help me better myself to become who I am meant to be, or who I aspire to be, both as a player and an individual.”
Former NWU centre and team- mate, Romé Dreyer, is one of her inspirations, whom she looks up to. Keebine also feels the steps to greatness start with a dream, a hope and a belief.
“I believe that if you really want something, you’ll find a way to get it. If you don’t, you’ll find an excuse. You can do anything you put your mind to, literally anything, and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. If you can’t fly, run; If you can’t run, walk; If you can’t, crawl. No matter what, keep moving forward and you will make it.”
