Thrilling comeback delivers WHS triumph
Schools netball
A total of 85 teams represented a total of 25 public and private schools from various regions in the semi-finals and finals.
In a nail-biting comeback performance, the Windhoek High School under-19 team overcame their rivals, Windhoek Gymnasium by a single point in the main match at the Capricorn Schools Netball League finals.Under clear skies on the Windhoek Gymnasium home court, a dramatic shift in momentum kept spectators on the edge of their seats until the final whistle.
The first quarter set the tone for an intense battle, with Gymnasium's goal shooter, Jolan Polgar, making the first goal of the match and taking an early lead. Despite WHS's best efforts, they struggled to keep up with their opponents’ swift play and sharp shooting as the quarter ended with Gymnasium ahead, 10-5.
WHS tried to close the gap, but Gymnasium's solid defense and quick transitions proved difficult to overcome. Gymnasium extended their lead to 17-9 by halftime, leaving WHS with a significant deficit.
Suné Verdoes, head coach of WHS, only made one tactical change during the entire match, namely swapping wing attack Kavetamunua Muharukua, with centre Marné du Toit.
Quarter 3 saw a remarkable shift in momentum. WHS returned with renewed energy and determination. Improved teamwork and precise passing allowed them to narrow the gap by scoring an impressive 11 goals while restricting Gymnasium to just four. By the end of the quarter, Gymnasium’s lead had shrunk to just 21-20, setting the stage for an exciting final quarter.
In the fourth quarter, tension was palpable as both teams fought hard for every point. WHS, fueled by the blue team's support, continued their comeback. With just seconds left, WHS netted the winning goal, securing a stunning 27-26 victory.
Hope Kazondovi, the winning captain, said she kept her team motivated in those crucial moments with the following encouragement: “We stayed motivated by keeping a positive mindset and keeping the fighting spirit high. We allowed ourselves to forget about the scoreboard and just stick to playing netball.”
Kazondovi recalls that she asked the team to dig deep and to remind themselves why they started playing for WHS in the first place, to play for those who love the sport.
Verdoes said the crowd's support definitely boosted the team’s morale: “The unwavering support from WHS helped to mentally encourage the girls to keep pushing to the end."
Verdoes reckons the team's determination to keep on fighting till the end shows immense character: "This character serves as inspiration to young players to never give up, even if times get tough."
Full results of the Capricorn Netball League finals:
Under-19
1 Windhoek High School beat 2 Windhoek Gymnasium (27-26). Bronze: A. Shipena Secondary School.
Under-17
1 Windhoek Gymnasium beat 2 Centaurus Secondary School (39-18). Bronze: M&K Gertze High School.
Under-15
1 Windhoek Gymnasium beat 2 Windhoek High School (30-26). Bronze: Windhoek Affies.
Under-14
1 Windhoek Affies beat 2 Windhoek Gymnasium (15-9). Bronze: Windhoek High School.
Under-13
1 Windhoek Affies beat 2 Tsumeb Gymnasium (22-16). Bronze: Windhoek Gymnasium.
Under-12
1 Windhoek Gymnasium beat 2 Windhoek Affies (22-18). Bronze: Pro-Ed Academy.