Chairman Mao Zedong High School’s First Ever Netball Teams

Academics is one thing, but sports is another. Often, pupils transform on the sports field, whether they’re shooting hoops or scoring a goal in an intense football match. But one sport that many do not consider to be extremely competitive is netball.

Something you may have seen is that pupils take pride when they are a part of their school’s sports team and for a long time, girls who love netball at Chairman Mao Zedong High School in Windhoek did not have a team to play for. However, this has changed as the school recently drafted two netball teams, under-15 and under-19 respectively. YouthPaper got the chance to meet and engage with the new netball team as well as their coaches.

It’s not easy being a coach of a team – especially a new one because you are yet to study the dynamic of the players you coach. Hertha Anton, head coach of the netball squad, said she’s hoping to win the school league and is eager for them to play in the national team.

“We want them to be fit and make it to the national team next year. We are actually grooming them for next year,” she said. “It can be a possible career for some of them. Apart from that, it is also fun for the girls because they are excited and they are having fun.”

Another member of the management team who doubles as the assistant coach is Tangi Ausiku. Her take of the team is that parents are not offering enough support for their children. “Parental involvement is very important in the activities of pupils for morale support,” said Ausiku, adding that if the parents were really involved, they would pick up some of the challenges that we are faced with as a new team and they would help in those areas.

Although many people assume that it’s only the coach who takes care of a team, they’d be wrong. As much as physical health is important, mental health plays a crucial role in a child’s life as well. This is why Maroline Hoabes, the team psychologist, decided to take on the responsibility of ensuring the players do well mentally.

She highlighted some of the challenges that she encountered working with young people. “Not everyone comes from the same background, some of them come with everything that they are asked of them and others do not.” She said that one of the solutions would be having fundraising events at the school to raise money for the development of the team. Despite the constraints that may plague the team at times, Hoabes enjoys seeing them letting loose, laughing and playing. “It’s very important for children, it’s not always about academics,” she said.

There’s normally a seven-man team in netball. They consist of the goal shooter, goal attack, wing attack, centre, wing defence, goal defence and goal keeper. Sherice Dreyer, who plays as the wing attack, said that she wants to be remembered for being a “potential netball player and respective pupil”.

The goal attack for this team is Uerijaera Tjiueza. Speaking on the pressure of being one of the pioneers of the team, she said: “I’m overcoming the pressure by being open with my teammates and getting to know all of them so that our communication is improved on and off the court”.

Goal defender Kelly Tjarukaua said it’s amazing being on the team. “It’s the best feeling ever. I feel like it is a family.”

Summing up the conversation, Ausiku told YouthPaper that the team is grateful for the support the school management has rendered. “The school is trying so hard to help us. They make sure we have transport to and refreshments for our games and they make sure that umpires are paid,” said Ausiku.

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