For all of you who donated towards our Buy A Metre
initiative by ‘buying’ a square metre of the sports field, know that your funds
went towards an incredible venture - surfacing our village’s first professional
netball court – and in so doing, you have contributed to a new wave in women’s
sports in Chintsa.
An interview with netball coach Noluthando Ngxanga, by Odwa Shaun Mtshini:
Born in 1972 in Chintsa East, Noluthando is from a family of
seven. While she was doing Grade 8 she was a choir
member, but also did sports: Javelin throwing, Disc throwing and ...Netball!!!!
She captained for her school netball team as well as playing for a local team at
Phumalani. She passed Grade12 but couldn’t further her studies due to financial
problems, and had to stay at home after finishing school. In 1996 she gave
birth to a baby boy and named him Luvuyo.
We asked her about how she got back into Netball:
Where have you worked, and where do you work now?
In 2002 I was employed at Crawfords Beach Lodge, and then in
2004-2006 I got a job at Michaela’s restaurant (both in Chintsa East). In 2007 I was offered a job back Crawfords
and I’ve been working there since then.
A few years later and I’m now the supervisor.
When were the Chintsa Netball teams formed, and what made you start
these Netball clubs?
I formed the Chintsa Netball Club in 2006 with the idea of
getting girls away from drinking alcohol and falling pregnant because of having
nothing to do, and from the easy availability of the substance. I am the coach
of the team, and I made Nomonde Kantyashe Captain, and Iva the vice Cap.
Where did you practise before the sport field and the Netball court
were built?
We used to practise at the place where Ntuthukweni Crèche is
now built, but we moved after the sport field was built.
How you feel about the new sport field, and have you seen any change in the girl’s
happiness since the Netball court is built?
Yes we’re so happy to be playing and practising on the netball
court! It has also brought a number of
other children to join us.
Tell us about your matches so far: how many at home and how many away?
We had a few home and away matches last year but this year
we haven’t had any matches because things have changed, for example a number of
the players are at boarding school now.
Others are still practising but they haven’t had any matches yet.
Who did you start the Netball Club with?
I started the Netball Club with Mike Denison who helped us
by sponsoring Netball balls and whistles.
I asked for other sponsors but I didn’t get much of a response apart
from “I’ll get back to you”. A sport committee
was formed in Chintsa Village, and I became secretary for SANCO (Chintsa
Village Council).
What are the ages of the girls who are taking part in the Netball?
From 13-22 years
When do you ladies practise?
Monday-Thursday, and we put in extra days if there will be a
match!
How many teams do you have?
Currently we have three teams: an A and B team, and the
third team is for the youngsters. Most
of the players are at schools which are too far from Chintsa, and they are finding
it hard to play. But we have now got some new players who have joined, and they
play like professionals!
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Friends of Chintsa attended the Big Chintsa Sports Day in
March this year, where the village celebrated the One Year Anniversary of the
new sports field and netball court. There
we witnessed first hand the team spirit and professionalism of some of these
netball teams, who thrashed the visiting teams to stepped onto their court!
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