Breaking barriers through netball

When Leah Ihemba (24) moved to Okahandja Park in 2021 to pursue her studies, she found the experience daunting.

Not only did she have to adjust to a new environment, she also struggled to make friends and keep herself busy.

Ihemba had dabbled in different sports during her time as a pupil of Rundu Secondary School, eventually settling on football. However, she quickly realised that relocating to the big city would put a halt to her football aspirations. This is because Okahandja Park, on the outskirts of Windhoek, was simply too far away from the teams she hoped to join.

After seeing a group of young women playing netball on an open field behind her house, Ihemba decided to give the sport a try. While the rough terrain and gravel may have deterred others, Ihemba was eager to learn the game.

She approached Cecilia Mathews, the captain of the Superstars Netball team, to learn the basics of the game.

At the time, the team was preparing for the upcoming Kasi Tournament, so Ihemba was placed as a reserve. She wasn’t allowed to play, even during friendly games, she recalls. “I just had to watch and observe how people were playing. So, I learned more of the basics of netball,” she says. Even being sidelined did not deter Ihemba. In fact, other players were supportive and eager to teach her and she soon found something electrifying about the sport. She says she just had a sense that something good would come from it.

“I can’t stop playing netball. When I stop, I feel like I’m losing something, like I’m missing out on something,” Ihemba says, highlighting her growing passion for the game. The fast pace of netball, where two teams of seven players aim to evade each other and score goals, keeps Ihemba on her toes.

“It’s a fast-paced, high-energy game where you only have a few seconds to catch the ball, sprint and score.” Netball also pushes her to be physically fit and mentally strong, as the game demands team effort and dedication, she says. “When you’re fit, you’re able to pivot and know which foot to land on.”

She emphasises the advantage of being swift, as well as the importance of quick thinking in the sport.

She says playing netball helps her relieve stress and forget everything else when she’s on the court.

Through the sport, she has formed important friendships and honed her time management skills, balancing her netball training sessions on Fridays and Saturdays, with her coursework at Triumphant College. Despite the challenges her teammates face, such as securing training gear like uniforms and shoes, they remain determined.

The team also has to deal with the lack of a proper netball court and even carry their netball poles to the field before every practice, out of fear they may be stolen. It is their dedication that has led them to victories in the Kasi Tournament, and secured invitations to friendly games with teams across the city. Mathews attributes the team’s success to their commitment.

“We are committed players. To be truly committed, you need discipline and mutual respect. That’s how we win,” says the captain.

Mathews emphasises that perseverance and teamwork have allowed the team to exceed expectations, despite their challenges.