Masiphumelele High School, MasiSports and CoolPlay together have rejuvenated netball in the High School this year. The Masi HS under 19 netball team is today the South Peninsula champion having beaten Portland High in a nail-biting 10-9 semi-final encounter. And on 2 September, the team plays the top Northern Peninsula team in the final.
The under-19 netball girls are ecstatic. During Covid there was no sport and that did not dull the netball dreams at Masi HS. This is a standout performance, as they won seven matches on the way to the finals.
Phila (Pamella Dlulane), their coach, said: “The team was so excited – they were stoked after the match! We need to train like never before for the final.”
This adventure is the work of three organisations and all must take the credit for the team’s success.
Masiphumelele HS has supported the MasiSports dream of having after-school sport at the school. The school has had the support of MasiSports, CoolPlay and Atlas Foundation (for rugby). The headmaster, Nelson Mafrika, and the staff have welcomed this change.
MasiSports constructed the two netball courts and supplied the school-branded kit and equipment to ensure practices and matches can be played at the school for the first time for a decade. Phila came through the MasiSports ranks under Nceba Jonas and Fez Payi, the netball head coaches.
Coolplay made Phila a CoolPlay champion – she was trained to teach life skills to the players and coach them.
CoolPlay and MasiSports value life skills as the X factor to playing top-class sport. It is a key factor with skills training that allows the players to express themselves fully and be the best that they can be.
Masi High’s netball head, Ms Nongoka, was with the team every step of the way, accompanying the team to all matches and supporting them.
Partnerships with no ego, working for the common good of the school and the young adults change their attitude and their future. Thank you, partners!