Kwa-Thema – Fourteen-year-old Simphiwe Ngwenya from Kwa-Thema is already showing the determination, discipline and fighting spirit needed to make her mark in netball.

Having started playing the sport at age six, Ngwenya has spent years developing her skills and deepening her love for the game.

What began as an interest in trying different school sports eventually turned into a passion that has shaped her journey on and off the court.

“I told myself that I would play every sport and participate at school, but my love for netball eventually grew bigger than my love for the other sports,” she said.

Ngwenya plays goalkeeper (GK) and goal defence (GD), positions she enjoys because they let her help her team regain possession and turn defensive opportunities into goals.

She shared that she enjoys her position because her team trusts her to win intercepts, win the ball back, and turn them into goals.

Although her first experience playing school netball was enjoyable and came with little pressure, joining a netball club exposed her to a different level of competition.

She remembers feeling nervous when she first played in a league, particularly after seeing the high standard of other young players.

“My first experience playing for a netball league was very stressful. I was nervous because the kids there performed very well and felt intimidating compared to netball at school. I kept asking myself, ‘What if I don’t perform or disappoint my team?’” she recalled.

Her journey into club netball was also influenced by her best friend, Okuhle Bolue, who encouraged her to join a netball club and helped nurture her interest in the sport.

Like many young athletes, Ngwenya has had to identify areas of her game that need improvement. She admits that timing and attitude are among her biggest challenges, although she is actively working on them.

One moment that stands out in her journey was during her first tournament. Despite the doubts surrounding her performance, she used the opportunity to show what she could do on court.

She recalled the opponent’s coach asking which position she would play, prompting laughter from those around her. However, Ngwenya had the last laugh after delivering an impressive performance that caught even the opponent’s coach by surprise.

“In that match, I was on fire; he said that he did not expect me to play like that. I felt very happy because I proved everyone wrong.”

Away from matches, Ngwenya is intentional about improving her game.

“She watches netball matches, paying particular attention to how other goalkeepers and goal defenders position themselves, read the game and execute different techniques.

One player she looks up to is Shamera Sterling, whom she admires for her court vision, ability to read feeders’ eyes and skill in blocking shots.

She also draws inspiration from her teammate Nondumiso Mashaya, whose consistency and determination have left a lasting impression on her.

Ngwenya explained that Mashaya continues fighting even when the team is losing or her teammates are close to giving up. She believes that having players who maintain their fighting spirit regardless of the score is important in building a strong team.

Her ambitions stretch far beyond her current level of competition. She hopes to one day play for international teams and represent the country.

“I wish to see myself playing for teams like Adelaide Thunderbirds, Gauteng Golden Fireballs and the Spar Proteas and being known for being the best in all the positions I play,” said Ngwenya.

For her, the dream is achievable because of her faith, the foundation laid by her coaches and the lessons she continues to learn through the sport.

She credits her coaches for teaching her the skills and values needed to succeed, with discipline being one of the most important lessons.

Beyond netball, Ngwenya also participates in athletics and swimming. She describes herself as shy when meeting new people but talkative once she becomes comfortable.

She noted that netball has helped her discover more about herself, develop patience and learn how to work with other children. It has also reinforced the importance of discipline, both in sport and in everyday life.

Her advice to other young players hoping to pursue netball is to understand that success requires more than talent.

“They should be ready mentally because not every game is going to be fun and easy. They must always be disciplined and not play while angry, because it will affect their performance.

“They must listen to everything their coach tells them, even if it doesn’t make sense to them yet.”