Picture: Sisonke Netball team player, Onkarabetse Veronica Tlhareseng
By OBAKENG MAJE
Only a day left before the Netball South Africa team kick-start its much-anticipated Netball World Cup opening match against Wales in Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC). Now, netball player, Onkarabetse Veronica Tlhareseng from Mokgareng village, near Taung said, she will be delving into the Spar Proteas.
Tlhareseng (23) said she is very passionate about netball and would like to see herself representing the country in the future. She further said, her passion for netball started when she was only 10. Even though Tlhareseng does not know what prompted her to become a netball player, she went on to become a household name, especially around Taung.
“I started playing netball, while I was in primary school. I only saw people playing netball and decided to join. Since then, I never looked back. After finishing my matric, I went to Ranfontein in Gauteng and joined a netball team there called, Letleo Club MEC.
“I started going for trials and funny enough, I was always selected. At some point, I wanted to quit, but my coach was so persistent because she could see my potential. Our team once qualified for regional games in Pretoria back in the years,” she said.
Last year, Tlhareseng decided to go back to Taung and joined Sisonke Netball Club. Two months ago, she won the Netball Player of the Tournament during the Greater Taung Local Municipality (GTLM) Mayoral Cup Tournament held at Taung Agricultural College.
“The only thing that I know is that, the minute I enter the netball quad, I play my heart out. So, winning the Netball Player of the Tournament was great and that shows that I am dedicated to the game.
“Truly, I was not expecting it because we played against the best players. However, coming on top really shows that discipline, dedication and determination pay dividends. If I can put my focus on netball, I think I can do better than this and go far,” she said.
Tlhareseng said, she would like to further her studies and do a Management Assistant course. She added that, education increases one’s knowledge and gives the edge over other things, especially in business.
“I really do not want to talk about my upbringing, but it was difficult growing up. Truly, what kept me going was the struggles that I was subjected to, but I told myself to never give up. I was raised by a single parent after my father passed away,” she concluded.
Meanwhile, the Netball South Africa president, Cecilia Molokwane said: “Our players are ready for the tournament. As a federation, we have given our team unwavering support and I call on our supporters to rally behind our team. Remember, it will be for the first time in sixty years that, a Netball World Cup is hosted on African soil.
“Therefore, the stake is too high because we cannot afford to lose in our own backyard. They say, if you want something done, send a woman. So, it is our time to show the world what we can do. So, we have full confidence in our team and this is their chance to write their names in the history books.”
The players selected to represent South Africa during the 2023 Netball World Cup are:
Bongiwe Msomi (capt); Karla Pretorius (VC); Khanyisa Chawane; Izette Griesel; Phumza Maweni; Lenize Potgieter; Nicola Smith; Jeante Strydom; Nichole Taljaard; Elmere van der Berg; Shadine van der Merwe, Ine-Mari Venter
Reserves: Owethu Ngubane; Refiloe Nketsa and Lefebre Rademan
TaungDailyNews 