WeeklySA_AdminSPIRIT: Netball golden oldie cum-former sprinter and her mentor call for fans especially men to show support for our girls in Cape Town
By Molefi Mika
Joy to one of our living sports ancestors Dolly Mtshali, 88, is South Africa’s hosting of the biggest netball event ever, the Vitality Netball World Cup 2023 from July 28 to August 6.
“Ausi Dolly”, as many refer to the ever-beaming but no-nonsense lady, is looking forward to watching the netball spectacle and urges all South Africans, especially men to turn up in droves to support a women’s sport.
“After all,” she says, “women have also supported men’s sport as you must have seen at the 2010 Fifa World Cup football,’ she adds. Mtshali, the first president of the South African Netball Association (SANA) in 1979/80, reckons the sport has indeed come a long way.
This notwithstanding the fact that Mtshali in her younger days was one of the top tennis players of her time, parading then as Dolly Kganye, before joining the East Rand Board as a sports organiser.
Reminiscing of those old days in the early 70s, she said: “One day we were sent to some sports workshop and I took my tennis rackets along with me. But to my surprise, it turned out that we were only there to help find ways to introduce netball in the schools and the townships at large.
“There were disagreements in how we should structure regional and national structures which saw us go our way to form a black netball association. Don’t forget apartheid was still rampant at the time,” she said.
Responsible for the East Rand region, it was a steep climb for Mtshali as she also had to dig deep in her pockets for travel and other logistics etc.
This saw her visit places like the Free State holding clinics with the likes of ‘Wachita’ (Washington Mogadi, a then well known sports-organiser who was also a professional boxing referee; softball coach and umpire; and tennis player ever full of jokes); Pietermaritzburg, as well as Thohoyandou in Venda, to satisfactory response. Unforgettable, however, was one particular weekend when together with her excited two children went to Potchefstroom at the invitation of local officials to conduct clinics, only to find no one to welcome her and had return home.
Undeterred, she went on to qualify as a netball trainer and coach including umpiring. “I am proud that things later changed as SANA, SAWNA (SA Women’s Netball Association for whites) and SANU (SA Netball Union which belonged to the non-racial groupings) gave way Netball South Africa (NSA) which was given permission to host this year’s event, proof that my efforts to spread the netball gospel at the time were not fruitless,” said octogenarian.
Things, however, got better as Mtshali was elected the first president of the South African Netball Association (SANA) which came to being around 1979/80 and soon got noticed by the public due to school activities in the Soweto league. And of course the media also played a great part as sports reporters that included the likes of Meshack Motloung and Dan Radinku both from Sowetan then, Bafana Shezi (The Star) and yours truly from Rand Daily Mail.
“I am proud that things later changed as SANA, SAWNA (SA Women’s Netball Association for whites) and SANU (SA Netball Union which belonged to the non-racial groupings) gave way to Netball South Africa (NSA) which was given permission to host this year’s event, proof that my efforts to spread the netball gospel at the time were not fruitless.”
Speaking to Weekly SA Mirror at her house in Hlahatsi Section, Katlehong, together with her protege Nyalleng “Red Rose” Motsoeneng, the latter could not hide her elation of being able to secure flight tickets to the international event.
“Mika I am so happy that our country will be hosting this big tournament, the World Cup, and it’s my wish that matches could be played in packed venues. Bontate (men) it’s their turn to be seen to be supporting a women’s sport because women have also supported men’s sport as you must have seen at football,” she said.
Turning to Motsoeneng she added: “You should also ask your team to watch those matches when they are shown on TV,” she said. Motsoeneng, a former top 110-yards and 220-yards sprinter for the East Rand Schools Regional athletics team – ever having a fresh red rose attached on the side of her head – was also one of those top netball centre (midfield) players in her time.
She was so talented that she even became the only player ever from outside Joh’burg then to be lured by the all- conquering Rockville Young Limited in the Soweto Netball Association, SNA.
Not a shrinking violet Motsoeneng responded: “Ausi Dolly, myself and a number of my teammates in the Highlanders Over-40 team have already booked flights to Cape Town for the World Cup.”
And Mtshali shot-out: “I’m proud of you my girl. Mika, ona ke mogodisitse (I groomed this one).” By the way the “Red Rose” also at some stage joined Ausi Dollt as a sports-organiser.
Motsoeneng on one hand has been lured to join the patrons of the Phake Youth Club (PYC) which caters for sports and a book club, she joins them to help in unearthing more netball talent, book reading and storytelling and helping with fund-raising projects.
It appears our proud living sports ancestor Mtshali wants the first whistle of the World Cup to go off like yesterday.
Sports:
Briefs
COUNTDOWN TO WRC 2023
Celebrations are taking place throughout France to mark the 100-day countdown to the start of Rugby World Cup 2023 – set to be the most popular edition in the tournament’s history.
With a little under three months to go until the best players on the planet arrive in France, final preparations are underway for rugby’s 200th birthday party, which promises to showcase the sport’s power to bring people and communities together. The Webb Ellis Cup arrives in Paris on an Emirates A380 with bespoke Rugby World Cup 2023 livery and will pass from world champions South Africa to hosts France, a symbol that the countdown is truly underway, with attention then turning to activities across the 10 host cities, culminating in a spectacular light show set to transform the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. Meanwhile, the tournament medals will also be unveiled, cast entirely from recycled mobile phones donated by fans and community rugby clubs, reflecting the unique connection which will be enjoyed by players and fans in France and the tournament. They also reflect rugby’s commitment towards future environmental sustainability.
MESSI VS RONALDO 11
Lionel Messi’s transfer saga is drawing to an end, with the Barcelona legend set to shun a move back to Camp Nou in favour of a transfer to the Saudi Pro League that is set to earn him the richest contract in sport history.
The deal has been virtually confirmed by Abdul Aziz bin Turki Al-Faisal, the Saudi sports minister, who has hinted that Messi and Real Madrid star Karim Benzema will be joining Cristiano Ronaldo in the Saudi Pro League this summer. Messi is out of contract with PSG at the end of the season and will not renew his contract with the Ligue 1 club. Although it is not known which Saudi Pro League clubs the pair will be joining, it is expected that Messi goes to Al-Hilal to square up in direct competition against Ronaldo once more.
SITEMELA TAKES ON BOTSWANA CHAMP
World Boxing Federation (WBF) World Super Featherweight champion Steven Bagwazi will likely get his hands full on June 9 in Gaborone, Botswana. Bagwazi, 8-1 (2), takes on South African champion Lunga Sitemela, 15-1 (9), in what will be his first title-defense.
Winning the WBF world title last August with a dominating unanimous decision over Tanzanian Said Chino, Bagwazi made history by becoming the first boxing world champion from Botswana. Sitemela is, at least on paper, by far the best opponent so far in his career, as the man from Cape Town has faced, and defeated, stellar opposition since turning pro in 2016.
The South Africans sole loss came on points in 2021 in Russia against undefeated Muhammadkhuja Yaqubov (16-0), and he has since rebounded with two impressive stoppage wins last year.
CHIEFS TOWERLESS
Kaizer Chiefs Chairman, Kaizer Motaung, has hailed the “significant” contribution of Mulomowandau Erick ‘Tower’ Mathoho and hailed his exemplary example on and off the pitch, as the Club bade farewell to the 33-year-old veteran after a decade of sterling service. In recognition of Mathoho’s loyalty and commitment to Amakhosi, the Chairman expressed his gratitude and respect for the player, and the man: “I must say I am very proud, and thankful, that Tower came in. He is a very good example, in terms of his behaviour and his demeanour. He plugged the gaps that we had at the time. The contribution he has made is significant.” The Chairman emphasised his appreciation for Tower’s faithfulness to the Club over taking up other potential opportunities.
“He is obviously different from the normal players that happen in football today. For him to have stayed at the same club for 10 years actually shows the commitment and the love he has for this Club, because he could have had the chance to say no, perhaps to go overseas, but he stayed and stayed the course,” said the Chairman.
MOURINHO A ‘F…ING DISGRACE’
JOSE Mourinho faces a massive Uefa ban after a car park ambush of ref Anthony Taylor in the aftermath of Roma’s Europa League Finaldefeat to Sevilla. Former Chelsea, Manchester United and Spurs boss Mourinho screamed at Taylor that he was a “f***ing disgrace” in the clash.
He also accused Uefa refs’ chief Roberto Rosetti of being complicit in what he felt was a stitch-up against his side. The Portuguese was already likely to be in hot water after his comments in the post-match press conference in which he implicitly accused Taylor and his colleagues of being biased as he said they “seemed Spanish”. Those comments were already expected to be included in the official Uefa match delegate’s report and were likely to see a short ban.
