Learners from Leifo Iziko Combined School in Reitz, Free State, have scored a remarkable opportunity to compete internationally after being crowned champions of the Kay Motsepe Schools Netball Tournament this past weekend.

The school's Under-15 netball team clinched victory with a 14-10 win over Bokamoso Secondary School from Gauteng, securing a coveted spot at the International Youth Netball Challenge in Singapore this November.

The Kay Motsepe Schools Netball Championship National finals took place from 15 to 17 August in Rustenburg, North West. The competition featured 36 schools representing all nine provinces, divided into two streams: Botho and Ubuntu. Leifo Iziko Combined School's hard-fought win in this prestigious tournament reflects their dedication and talent, marking them as a force to be reckoned with in youth netball.

Leifo Iziko Combined School has consistently demonstrated excellence in school sports. They are the reigning champions of the Magnificent Wednesday school sports league and will defend their title for the third consecutive year. Their coach, Molebatsi Mofokeng, expressed pride in the team’s achievement, highlighting their determination to improve on last year’s second-place finish.

“We worked very hard from the district level, where we secured the top spot,” Mofokeng said. “This year, we were determined to take first place. We remained calm and focused, keeping our eyes on the prize – the trip to Singapore.

‘You can see the talent is there’

“It was something we missed out on last year, and we told ourselves this year we are going to Singapore. This win means a lot to us. These are young girls, but you can see the talent is there.”

Free State Education MEC, Dr Mantlhake Julia Maboya, praised the team’s performance, emphasising the importance of such initiatives in promoting the growth of women’s sports and school sports development. She noted sports play a vital role in nurturing talent and encouraging healthy lifestyles, among learners. Maboya also stressed the need for stakeholder collaboration to ensure the equitable roll-out of various sporting codes across all schools.

“While we commend the girls for their dazzling performance, we must also thank the principal of Leifo Iziko Combined School, the school management team, the school governing body, the coach, and the entire Reitz community for supporting these learners,” MEC Maboya said. “We need to drive practical transformation in extracurricular activities.”

In addition to Leifo Iziko Combined School’s triumph, other top-performing teams were also rewarded. Pietersburg Hoërskool from Limpopo and Monument High from Gauteng, placed second and third in the Botho group, received R150,000 and R100,000 respectively. Similarly, Bokamoso Secondary and Chiawelo High from Limpopo, placed second and third in the Ubuntu group, also won R150,000 and R100,000.

OFM News/Kekeletso Mosebetsi cg