“If it is not netball, it is not right.” This is the bold and catchy statement printed on the back of the T-shirt Eastern Cape Schools Netball (ECSN) chairwoman Singathwa Magida is sporting at the South African National Schools Championships.
The province is represented by four strong teams, including those of the disabled – intellectually and physically – in various age groups.
The teams are Upper Falakahla JSS in the Ubuntu section, Branbag SSS in the Batho category and two selected provincial teams in the intellectually impaired and deaf sections.
The Dispatch yesterday caught up with the passionate Magida who was unequivocal that they were aiming to improve on their results in previous years of the tournament.
When asked about the statement on her T-shirt, she said: “This is one of our marketing strategies – to say to people that netball is a sport and must be treated like other sports and take its rightful place as the biggest women’s sport in South Africa.”
Magida said the province’s presence would be felt at this year’s event.
“We really do not see anyone standing in our way, bar Gauteng, Free State and Western Cape in the Batho section,” she said.
“But we are here to compete and to be counted among the top performers in the intellectually impaired and physically disabled categories.”
Since ascending to the post of chairwoman of ECSN, Magida said there had been substantial improvement in schools netball in the province and that their performance in the national champs was gradually improving.
With Eastern Cape schools having struggled in netball in the past, the ECSN has started an all-age groups tournament aimed at gauging the state of schools netball in the province, Magida said.
Her organisation also prides itself on unity among schools, which have developed a culture of assisting each other, unlike in the past.
She said: “We are getting somewhere as schools netball in the Eastern Cape. We have been under-performers for far too long but slowly but surely we are getting there.
“It is also worth mentioning that had it not been for the support we are getting from the provincial department of sport, recreation, arts and culture; we would not be where we are.
“The department for instance has helped improve administrators’ skills by sending me to a youth seminar in Sweden which bolstered my capacity as an administrator.
“Free State and Western Cape are a dominant force in netball not because they have better players than us but because their administrators and coaches are well capacitated which is unfortunately not the case with us.”
However, scores of netball coaches at school, most of whom are teachers, were undergoing training throughout the province. The challenge remained that many only did the theoretical part of the course and chickened out when due to go for practicals, which disqualified them from being accredited coaches, she said.
“Fear is probably the cause but we need more coaches and administrators.”
Eastern Cape team force at SA games
The province is represented by four strong teams, including those of the disabled – intellectually and physically – in various age groups.
The teams are Upper Falakahla JSS in the Ubuntu section, Branbag SSS in the Batho category and two selected provincial teams in the intellectually impaired and deaf sections.
The Dispatch yesterday caught up with the passionate Magida who was unequivocal that they were aiming to improve on their results in previous years of the tournament.
When asked about the statement on her T-shirt, she said: “This is one of our marketing strategies – to say to people that netball is a sport and must be treated like other sports and take its rightful place as the biggest women’s sport in South Africa.”
Magida said the province’s presence would be felt at this year’s event.
“We really do not see anyone standing in our way, bar Gauteng, Free State and Western Cape in the Batho section,” she said.
“But we are here to compete and to be counted among the top performers in the intellectually impaired and physically disabled categories.”
Since ascending to the post of chairwoman of ECSN, Magida said there had been substantial improvement in schools netball in the province and that their performance in the national champs was gradually improving.
With Eastern Cape schools having struggled in netball in the past, the ECSN has started an all-age groups tournament aimed at gauging the state of schools netball in the province, Magida said.
Her organisation also prides itself on unity among schools, which have developed a culture of assisting each other, unlike in the past.
She said: “We are getting somewhere as schools netball in the Eastern Cape. We have been under-performers for far too long but slowly but surely we are getting there.
“It is also worth mentioning that had it not been for the support we are getting from the provincial department of sport, recreation, arts and culture; we would not be where we are.
“The department for instance has helped improve administrators’ skills by sending me to a youth seminar in Sweden which bolstered my capacity as an administrator.
“Free State and Western Cape are a dominant force in netball not because they have better players than us but because their administrators and coaches are well capacitated which is unfortunately not the case with us.”
However, scores of netball coaches at school, most of whom are teachers, were undergoing training throughout the province. The challenge remained that many only did the theoretical part of the course and chickened out when due to go for practicals, which disqualified them from being accredited coaches, she said.
“Fear is probably the cause but we need more coaches and administrators.”
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