Two handball players from WSU’s Mthatha campus were selected amongst the best to represent the Eastern Cape Handball Association in Cape Town at the National Handball Women Championships that took place in August.
The Internal Auditing students, Ongeziwe Daka and Esinako Ngxishe who are doing their second and final year, respectively, were chosen after the Mthatha Campus Handball Club participated in the OR Tambo district championships in June.
“I started playing handball in high school. Unfortunately, I couldn’t advance in it due to lack of professional coaching and training facilities. I was very excited to find it at WSU and received proper training which has provided me with an opportunity like today,” said Daka.
The young woman who plays the Halfback position considers herself a born athlete as she has engaged in several other sporting activities, including netball and soccer.
“I am grateful for the opportunity to be part of the WSU handball team because it has exposed us to much greater opportunities like representing the province. Unfortunately, not everyone had this privilege, but it is amazing to see that a sport like handball can give us opportunities such as these,” said Ngxishe.
Ngxishe, who plays the Center back position, added that she was appreciative to have received mentorship from the team’s coach and lecturer in the Department of Environmental Sciences, Asabonga Mngeni, who had worked hard to secure their spot in the district league.
The proud coach said, “Playing sports helps these young people focus and engage in positive activities. It also keeps them grounded. I am most proud of my players because they don’t even need me to be there every day because they know what to do and they do it because they want to and they love it.”
As a result of the participation in the district level of the championships, three other players, Asekho Nombiba, Ngazibini Mkombe, and Nando Mlenga, were inducted by the OR Tambo district Handball Club at the provincial level.
Mngeni added, “My work with these athletes goes beyond the scope of coaching sports but teaching the values that will benefit them for the rest of their lives. So far, I can say that this strategy not only prevented them from being exposed in unhealthy and dangerous situations has seen all my team players graduating in record time.”
By Ongezwa Sigodi
