Netball Captains. Schools That Rock kicked off, a while ago, with a new sport series. The Captains from our High Schools’ first netball teams tell us more about their captaincy. Our tenth goal scored in this netball series, is by Spheshihle Mzisa. Spheshihle is the captain of the 1st netball team at Ermelo High School, Mpumalanga.
“I started playing netball in grade one, at the age of seven. I am so passionate about playing netball because it gives me joy! It’s just where my heart lies, and what also ignites my passion for netball, is the amount of potential I have that I didn’t think I have. It surprises me every day.
The position I play at the moment is GD and yes, I have played other positions before. In my eleven years and four months of playing netball I have played six out of the seven positions! The only position I haven’t played yet, is wing defense.
I was appointed as captain for the first time this year actually. In previous years I was appointed as captain, but I wasn’t the official captain of the team as I am now. It was being captain for a game.
Our team has three training sessions per week. That totals to four hours and thirty minutes a week. I do spend time on extra training, but I’m more of a runner. I’d go jog and come back. I love my skipping rope as well.
My most stressful game was the game against MHS that we played on the 5th of March. The pressure we had on our shoulders was to make changes to the score from previous years. My most exciting game was our first game. We were all looking forward to it. It was so exciting as we were also playing against a school we hadn’t played with before.
I am paving my way to play in varsity at the moment, which is my goal at the moment. My goal for the next 3 years? Please be on the lookout, I might be in your TV screens!
Rank your current top five priorities in life. Healthy lifestyle, Academics, Netball, Stronger relationship with God and a stronger relationship with my family and friends.
Yes, I am planning on continuing netball after school. Play club netball and then, in the long term I would like to be a part of the South African Spar Proteas and also play internationally.
My worst netball performance was when I went to the game with the mindset of already losing the game. I wasn’t my confident self and that had an impact on the team. I wasn’t working as hard as I was supposed to, not realizing I was putting the team in danger. What I learnt is that I should disregard all the things I’ve heard about that specific team because, at the end of the day, they’re also here to play netball. There’s nothing different they do from us, it’s the same sport. It also taught me trust. I need to trust myself so that the rest of the team and our coaches can trust me.
Yes, I do have interests outside of netball. I sing and dance and I’m surprisingly interested in wrestling. That sport just has my heart as well but I don’t think I’ll be trying it out in the near future.
Strengths I believe I have that make me a great netball player, is the ability to study my players as well as the other players on court. Studying them makes it easier for me to analyze the game even better. I am a smart player and a very versatile one too.
As netball captain, I motivate my team during practices by just shouting things like “well done girls” “You’re doing so well.” “One more set we’re almost done, push till the end.”
Yes, I have a role model, Phumza Maweni. She is just a phenomenal hockey player. Phumza is a smart player and she loves what she does. She played for club netball here in South Africa, aged for the Proteas and is now playing internationally.
What do you believe is the greatest challenge faced by today’s sport participants? The lack of teamwork, as most participants tend to think that netball is an individual sport which it is not, because you’re nothing without the rest of your team. Another thing is not acknowledging the work coaches do for us. We find participants that feel that the coaches have to do this for them, not understanding that our coaches also made time and put things aside to be on court at every practice and every game.
How do you manage your netball responsibilities and other recreational and non-recreational (academic) activities? Time management. Academically I’ve come to terms that time will pass but will I? I normally stay at school until it’s time for practice, in that hour and a half I have before practice I will do my homework.
What Iv’e learned about teamwork as netball captain? It works! Teamwork does make the dream work! If all team mates are focused on the same goal and are all willing to achieve that goal, it will happen because we work together.
When I came to EHS, one of my goals was to play for the first team at the age of 16 and in grade ten. In 2020 I achieved that, but through hard work and dedication.
Yes I have implemented a game plan. I saw how the goal shooter of the other team was playing. How we’d use her strategy to our advantage in the goal third and it worked phenomenally and we won that game.
When I see a team mate struggling with learning a new move or play, I would definitely help her because, whatever you do wrong at practice you will do wrong in games and that’s not what we would want as a team.
The best advice I have received from my coaches? They always tell me to work hard for my goals. Regardless of the potential I have, I still need to work hard to reach my goals.
My coach and fellow team mates describe me as someone that’s talkative, versatile and a straight talker. Basically someone that doesn’t sugar coat things.
I will describe a skilled coach as someone that motivates her team. Someone who doesn’t break her team down. Someone that acknowledges great efforts and fixes mistakes.
My single greatest highlight the past five years, is playing first team at the age of 16 and being the only grade 10 in the team.
A professional hockey player I would like to have coffee with, is Phumza Maweni. I haven’t looked up to anyone like I look up to her. She’s such an inspiration because she didn’t think she’d go this far with netball, but because of the hard work she put in she did and I’d like to sit and know about her story more.
Money excites me most in life because, for me, it makes the world go around and it just makes me happy.
Describe myself in one word? Smart.“
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