schoolsthatrockNetball Captain. In our popular series on sport captains, Schools That Rock talks to Aphiwe Dlamini. Aphiwei is the 1st Netball Team Captain of St Dominics Newcastle, a Curro Select School in Newcasle, KwaZulu Natal. Today Aphiwe scores the twelve goal in our series of Netball Captains from schools in South Africa and Namibia.
“I started playing netball in Grade 1, honestly because I really didn’t like hockey. After the first practice it was true love and I fell in love with the sport and I never looked back. The netball court became a second home, no matter the day I just had. Once I got in between those four lines, I had full control of everything and the love turned into a passion. I also have a desire to keep learning and to get better and better and to grow in the sport. It stopped being just about playing sport – it became a part of me.
The position I currently play is Goal Attack and I will occasionally switch to Goal Shooter. This switch came after playing goal and wing defense for about four years. Apart from this, any position my teams needed me to play, I’d play and give it my all.
Although I never put myself in the running to be a captain before, I had always been the team “mom”. I was always there to provide insight on what I know and give advice, be it sport-wise or otherwise, because it was about growing beyond the team and in our personal journeys. This year is my first year as Netball Captain.
Most stressful game
The game I stressed most as Netball Captain, was this year’s Dundee game. It was most difficult, not because of the physical discomfort I was in prior and during the game or the actual playing, but because I saw how disheartened everyone was. No matter what I said they had a hard time picking themselves up.
Unfortunately I never took a liking to other sports like I did with netball. Being the perfectionist I am, I decided that if I could not give it my 100% then I would not do it.
Goals I’d like to achieve during the current season, I think growth is my main objective. I hope it remains my objective because Rome wasn’t built in one day and improving on personal goals and personal objectives was really the name of the game this season.
I love netball and all the joys it’s given me, and right now I have no honest answer if I I would like to continue playing. But in a dream world, playing at semi-professional club level for a team like the Gauteng Jaguars or Southern Stings would be an absolute honour, and, God willing, the Proteas.
Strongest opponent
Our strongest opponent this year was Sarel Cilliers, because it was the most competitive game we had this season. We really stayed in it mentally, which was the biggest victory we got out of this game. We never gave up and were able to smile once all was said and done.
As Netball Captain, my job the whole season was to remind the team of how far each individual member has done. Once everyone saw the growth in themselves, it was easier for everyone to start believing in the team.
Coach Hadebe is my role model. She came to our school at a time where I considered not continuing with netball. She really gave me the belief that I needed back, and for that I am eternally grateful.
What I’ve learned about teamwork since becoming captain, is that everyone communicates differently. As captain, it’s vital to really make an effort to understand how everyone communicates. Once you understand how each person speaks, we can all work together towards the end goal.
Highlights
The highlight I experienced in netball was the bus ride back from Vryheid. It was an amazing moment because we all laughed, sang and smiled together despite having lost. This was because the connections and relationships we formed were worth more than a loss. The best advice I’ve ever received from my coach, is to make sure my heart was in it as much as my head.
My most enjoyable game I’ve ever played, was in 2022 against Nelspruit High School. It was an amazing moment because of how much fun we had. The toughest match so far in my netball career was against Dundee in 2022. It was the most difficult match to play just because of how embarrassing it was, but lessons were learnt.
If I was a kitchen article, I would be a knife – I can either be a part of a precious journey or creating amazing memories or if it’s bad I’ll be the first thing you grab if trouble comes knocking.
The professional netball player I’d love to have coffe with, is the Jamaican Netball Captain, Jhaniele Fowler. She is one of the older players on her team, but she plays with such finesse and does it while breaking the belief that mothers can’t successfully balance a sporting career and being parents.”
More school news: https://schoolsthatrock.co.za
https://www.curro.co.za/schools/st-dominics-newcastle-high-school/
Photo supplied
Become a Sponsor
