City of Cape Town Recreation and Parks Department staff, Cape Town Netball Federation club management, and Mitchell's Plain Netball Union, players and coaches.
CommunitySports

Netball tournament shoots for goal

3 years Dizindaba 317 Views

25 May 2023 – Dizindaba Reporter

Cape Town

The City of Cape Town’s Recreation and Parks Department and the Cape Town Netball Federation (CTNF) are hosting a local under-19 netball tournament in the lead-up to the 2023 Netball World Cup. The tournament kicked off this weekend in Bellville and Mitchells Plain.
‘Recreation centres in a number of areas have started netball-focused afterschool programmes to create awareness of this growing sport and provide opportunities to be active and promote healthy living. With this tournament, we’re giving our young players an opportunity to show off and hone their skills, all while creating buzz and excitement in the lead up to the Netball World Cup,’ said Mayoral Committee Member for Community Services and Health, Councillor Patricia van der Ross.

An average of 10 teams per sub-district will take part in the preliminary rounds, with the final due to take place on 24 June 2023.

The competition is open to all registered CTNF clubs, with special participation invitations for teams from the Recreation and Parks Department’s After school Netball Programme.

‘Although aimed at girls, the programme is also open to boys and while it’s about promoting the sport and physical activity; it brings with it additional benefits such as an increased use and ownership of community facilities,’ said Councillor Van der Ross.

The programme focuses on active communities and all aspects of sportsmanship that can make one a great netball player. This includes fitness, agility, ball passing and catching skills, footwork, netball rules of play and teamwork. 

Those interested in coaching/umpiring a netball game can join to learn this skill if they’re not keen to play.

Implementation of the programme is in partnership with local clubs that have the skills to build and coach teams and mentor netball players.

‘I want to encourage our communities to support the tournaments to motivate our young players. We could be inspiring the next members of our national netball team with our cheering and positive reinforcement. Through sport, we are able to keep our young people engaged in constructive activity, unite, build connections and enhance our well-being,’ added Councillor Van der Ross.

The tournament started Saturday, 20 May 2023, with the first matches at the Stephen Reagan Sport Complex and the Bellville Netball Sport Complex.

Mitchells Plain Ward Councillor Ashley Potts said the players had taken every opportunity to train on the court at the recently upgraded Stephen Reagan Sport Complex.

‘It is indeed an honour to serve as a ward councillor for an area where this widely recognised team sport is played. Our local netball teams have shown their ability to compete at every level and I look forward to seeing them at the finals,’ added Councillor Potts.

Matches will continue on consecutive Saturdays until its conclusion in June.

The finals promises to be an exciting event showcasing the best teams.

The match schedule is: Saturday, 27 May 2023 – William Herbert Sport Complex, Wynberg (Area 4).  Saturday, 3 June 2023 – Gustrouw Sport Complex, Strand (Area 2).  Saturday 10 June 2023 – Makhaza Sport Complex, Khayelitsha (Area 2), Saxonsea Sport Complex, Atlantis (Area 1), Blue Downs / Malibu Sport Complex, Blue Downs (Area 2). Saturday 24 June 2023 – Bellville Netball Sport Complex, Bellville (Area 1).

The main prize for the winning team will be tickets to attend the Netball World Cup in July.