St Anne’s Technical High School captain Luthando Mlenzana is ecstatic to be representing the Free State at the DSTV Schools Netball Challenge (DSNC) national finals, which will be held from 12 to 13 July at Hoërskool Florida in Roodepoort, Johannesburg.St Anne’s Technical High School captain Luthando Mlenzana is ecstatic to be representing the Free State at the DSTV Schools Netball Challenge (DSNC) national finals, which will be held from 12 to 13 July at Hoërskool Florida in Roodepoort, Johannesburg. St Anne’s qualified for the nationals by defeating Ikaheng Zakheni Secondary School in the Ubuntu provincial final. They will be joined by Botho winners C&N Sekondêre Meisieskool Oranje and Hoërskool Jim Fouché. The DSNC, now in its fourth year, is a partnership between Multichoice, South African Schools Netball, and the Department of Basic Education. It aims to identify and nurture future netball stars. Mlenzana is confident about her team’s chances at the nationals. “We are very happy and excited about the opportunity to play at the nationals,” she said. “I feel like we pushed a lot to get to this stage because it was tough where we came from. The games we played to get here were tough and not as easy as we thought.” “My team and I still have to work on things and fix them for the national final, things like footwork and our passing. But I am confident that we can fix that before we go to Joburg.” Mlenzana hopes to one day represent South Africa in international competitions. “I want to see myself playing for the (Spar) Proteas one day. This is where it starts. This is how I am going to build my career. Netball is my passion. I am dedicated and committed to it.”
St Anne’s Technical High School captain Luthando Mlenzana is thrilled to finally be attending the DSTV Schools Netball Challenge (DSNC) national finals.
Mlenzana and her school will represent the Free State at this year’s competition, which will take place from 12 to 13 July at Hoërskool Florida in Roodepoort, Joburg.
St Anne’s played Ikaheng Zakheni Secondary School in the Ubuntu provincial final to qualify for their first DSNC nationals.
The 2022 Botho winners, C&N Sekondêre Meisieskool Oranje and Hoërskool Jim Fouché, are the other schools representing the province in this year’s competition.
The DSCN, a national competition that starts at district level, is divided into two streams, Botho and Ubuntu, which provide the same platform for schools in both urban and rural areas to experience the sport at the same level.
The tournament is in its fourth consecutive year.
It is a partnership between Multichoice, South African Schools Netball and the Department of Basic Education, aimed at identifying and nurturing future stars.
“We are very happy and excited about the opportunity to play at the nationals. I feel like we pushed a lot to get to this stage because it was tough where we came from. The games we played to get here were tough and not as easy as we thought. My team and I still have to work on things and fix them for the national final, things like footwork and our passing. But I am confident that we can fix that before we go to Joburg,” said Mlenzana.
The goalkeeper says it was a tough road to secure a place in the final.
“I hope we will perform well. I hope we can fight for first place, because everyone is aiming for first place,” she says.
Over the years, the competition has seen some of the top talents represent South Africa in competitions such as the Netball World Youth Cup, Africa Cup Qualifiers and the Commonwealth Youth Games.
Mlenzana says she hopes to one day wear the green and gold too. “I want to see myself playing for the (Spar) Proteas one day. This is where it starts. This is how I am going to build my career. Netball is my passion. I am dedicated and committed to it. I play netball at school and for Lejweleputswa (district), I train on both sides and it makes me better every day. I love it with all my heart,” she says.
