Photos:
Benneli Olivier Van der Walt
IT was a weekend of blood, sweat and even a few tears at the first ever provincial netball tournament held at the Sivos netball courts in Kathu.
This groundbreaking event saw teams from all the districts in the Northern Cape competing against each other.
The districts competing were: Frances Baard, John Taolo Gaetsewe (JTG, which is currently busy incorporating the Siyanda District), Pixley ka Seme and the Namakwa District.
The Dance Fever Studio dancers performed during the official opening of the tournament.
Betsie Badenhorst, the president of the John Taolo Gaetsewe (JTG) Netball Association, said it was necessary to raise the quality of provincial netball in the Northern Cape.
“We want all our Northern Cape players, regardless from which town or village they come, to reach their full potential by providing step by step assistance and support.”
Antoinette Husselmann, the vice-president of the Northern Cape Netball Federation, read a personal letter from Maria Maiya, who could sadly not attend the event.
Maiya stated in her letter that “besides our differences, racial background and religious beliefs, netball serves as a platform and a foundation in our province where we unite and take hands to promote netball for life.
“Despite the vast distances in the province, we must not discourage our athletes to compete.”
Lebogang Motlhaping, the MEC for Sport, Arts and Culture of the Northern Cape, who grew up in the JTG distict, said: “You have managed to play your heart out to get here.
“You have managed to sacrifice hours of your time to hone your skill in order for you to be here today.
“Now, the challenge that exists is to play like a team. Play extremely hard. Represent not only your teams, but your districts too. And remember to have fun while doing it.”
Motlhaping also officially opened the provincial tournament.
The results of the tournament were as follows:
) Frances Baard won the A-team pool 1 matches with Siyanda coming in second.
) The B-team pool 1 matches were won by the Pixley ka Seme A-team, with the Frances Baard B-team coming second, the Namakwa B-team coming third and the JTG B-team ending fourth.
) In the B-team pool 2 matches, the Pixley ka Seme B-team won, with the Siyanda B-team in second place, the Namakwa A-team in third place and the JTG B-team in fourth place.
) The u.21 pool 1 matches were won by Frances Baard, with JTG coming in second, Siyanda coming third, Namakwa coming fourth and Pixley ka Seme ending fifth.
) The men’s netball was won by Frances Baard, with JTG in second place, Siyanda in third, Namakwa in fourth and Pixley in fifth place
