Blowing the whistle on the game of netball
With a passion for the sport and a good head on her shoulders, there's nothing this young professional can't handle
POLOKWANE – Hlole Makgahlela is a 35-year-old mother who perfectly balances her work and responsibilities as a netball umpire with her family life. Hlole is a bachelor of earth science in hydrology and water resources graduate and she gets to enjoy her passion for netball to boot.
A hydrologist by profession, she is a Senior Agricultural Resource Technician under Natural Resources Management for the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, but she enjoys indulging her passion for netball.
“As an umpire my responsibility is to protect a good game from any unfair situation or obstacle for the players to have a fair game. In a nutshell I control the game, this earned me the nickname ‘nail check’,” she laughs.
Hlole grew up in the village of Ga-Rashilu Laaste Hoop in Ga-Molepo. She moved to Gauteng where she matriculated at Bokamoso Secondary School in Tembisa.
“I first played netball when I was nine years old while schooling at Laaste Hoop Primary School. Soon, my love for the sport grew and although I mostly enjoy netball now from the sidelines I still enjoy playing the sport from time to time,” she said.
Most of the schools in Polokwane use me to umpire school leagues because of my ability and as a graded national Grade C+ umpire. I started umpiring for the departmental leagues at work every Wednesday during sports time because we lacked umpires, and a netball game without an umpire is almost impossible,” she said.
Soon she began umpiring for home teams, district and provincial tournaments, and other local tournaments.
“My dream is to become an international umpire before I retire and I am working towards SA Umpire A level, I set myself a goal to reach that status in three years. I am a member of the Young Fighters Netball Club in Seshego coached by my mentor, Victor Seakamela. He is like every netball player in Limpopo’s father and coach. He is a great teacher and a humble man to work with,” she said.
Her personal trainer, Andrew Druza Mabunda, helps her with fitness exercises three times a week to keep her in top form for her umpiring goals and duties.
To aspiring netball players her most important advice is for them to have a love for the sport.
“You must be willing to work hard, netball is an athletic sport which requires energy and fitness. Whether as a player or an umpire, fitness is not a talent, it requires lots of hard work, passion and dedication,” she concluded.
