Soaring to new heights

It takes hard work and dedication to achieve your goals, and when you are still in school, the extra effort you put into your goals becomes challenging.

Kiara van Eeden is certainly jumping high and soaring to new heights. Kiara is a 17-year-old who has been playing for the Hillfox Hawks for the past eight years. She has been selected for the U21 South African Team to represent her country in the upcoming Netball Youth World Cup that is set to take place in Gibraltar in September 2025.

“I feel very excited to play for my country, but not only that but to play mostly for my coaches and friends who have supported me dearly and encouraged me to keep going,” Kiara mentioned.

It may seem surreal for Kiara but with her achievements, it is not surprising. She plays for Hoërskool Noordheuwel’s first team and she represented South Africa in the Commonwealth Games as a part of the U18 SA Fast Five Team. She has accomplished a lot at her age and the future looks very bright for young Kiara.

“With my training schedule, my school is very accepting of my busy time and I do my homework in the evening since training is mostly during the afternoon after school. I love the fact that I can encourage young girls who want to play for SA one day to never give up and always believe in themselves, ” she added.

As a young and ambitious player who is selected as one of the top 35 U17 players in the country, Kiara is set to continue her netball journey into university as she will be playing professionally and her family, friends, and coaches could not be any more proud of her following her dreams.

“Kiara has been with us for eight years and during that time she has shown so much dedication and passion for the sport. She encourages our younger players when they see her excelling,” said Rene Blok, the Hillfox Action Sports Arena manager.