Spar Proteas Captain Bongi Msomi’s coach and mentor, Sithembiso Mncwabe, shared Bongi’s amazing journey in the formidable Sport of Netball. 

Bongi’s passion for netball was sparked when she accompanied some young girls to their training sessions. “I met Bongi Msomi during my time as a teacher, and our paths crossed again during one of the netball training sessions I conducted regularly after school” shared Mncwabe. 

“Seeing the game in action motivated her to give it a try, and we invited her to join our team when we were short on players. To our delight, she displayed impressive netball skills from day one, and I encouraged her to return for the next training session” he continued. 

“Captain Fantastic” as she is avidly known, began her netball journey in 2003 at the age of 15 when she participated in the Love Life Netball Tournament. The following year, she represented EThekwini Netball U/19 during the SALGA Games in KZN, becoming the youngest player in the team. 

Bongi’s determination to reach professional level stemmed from various sources of inspiration. Competing in Netball Championships, SALGA Games, and SA Games played a significant role, but the turning point came when she captained SA U/21 in Cook Islands. 

Subsequently, invitations to join the senior Netball Team and the experience of playing for Surrey Storm and Wasps in the UK under Tamsin Greenway, as well as Thunderbirds in Australia, further fuelled her ambition. 

“Captaining the SA Senior Team also shaped her into the professional player she is today, both on and off the court. Her journey was not without challenges, particularly in the early days. Financial constraints sometimes hindered her participation in tournaments and championships. I vividly remember arranging train rides to save costs and personally assisting with transport and accommodation expenses during certain games” Mncwabe continued. 

“Additionally, providing playing shoes became necessary, as they are a fundamental requirement for netball. When she took on the captaincy, I even sought English teachers’ help to improve her language skills. My motivation to support Bongi and young players like her came from my passion for teaching and sharing knowledge with the youth” said Mncwabe. 

With a background in Sport Management, Sithembiso recognized the potential of netball to open doors for young girls, providing opportunities for University scholarships, employment, and steering them away from negative influences like teenage pregnancy and diseases like HIV and AIDS. 

“I firmly believe that communities play a pivotal role in nurturing and shaping children. By actively contributing to sport development, adults can use sports like netball to foster national identity and social cohesion, leading to more peaceful communities” he continued. 

In Bongi’s hometown of Hammarsdale, netball has evolved from just a sport to a cultural phenomenon, and there are number of young women who are capable of reaching national level like Spar Proteas Captain, Bongi Msomi.   “I am proud of their achievements, with some excelling in international competitions, USSA Games, Telkom Netball League, and the Telkom Netball Championships” Mncwabe shared. 

“To advance netball in South Africa, it is important to prioritize the development of qualified coaches, bring netball back to all schools, and train teachers to take on coaching, umpiring, and administrative roles. Political interference must be eradicated to safeguard the sport’s integrity, and early talent identification and nurturing should be emphasized. Most importantly, we urge Mzansi to StandTall and support our ladies during this time.” he concluded.