The Bloemfontein-based girls netball club Desert Lions is on the verge of becoming the hunting ground for talent scouts due to a growing ability to unearth future stars. Evidence thereof is the rare gems showing up on the radar in domestic semi-professional competitions.
This achievement comes barely two years after the club’s formation and debut in the grassroots Mangaung Metro Netball League in 2021.
Sports enthusiast Phillip Molebaloa founded the club in February 2021. He manages and coaches the squad of 24 players, made up of juniors and seniors. The junior side, the U14 division, is the feeder to the senior team.
Considered to be the club’s best product, is goal shooter Boikanyo Dintlhoane (20), who was recently enlisted by the Bloemfontein Roses outfit. Last year she was with the Bultfontein Striders, the 2022 Free State Twizza Netball Club Champions winner.
Dintlhoane was instrumental in helping the Striders win the provincial title, as well as in the club’s campaign at the national championship. The club named her the goal shooter of the year and best player, recognising her consistent performance.
According to Molebaloa, the Desert Lions club has an abundance of talent. The players with enormous potential to follow in Dintlhoane’s footsteps include Onalena Selogiloe, Orefiloe Itumeleng and Tidimalo Mathe.
“They are very promising players and they improve with every match they play. The ultimate goal is making it into the Protea side, so they can represent the country internationally,” he says.
Molebaloa’s dedication towards unearthing and nurturing stars, and realising the vision, is what inspired him to establish the club.
“I formed the club out of a serious concern to save young girls from aimlessly roaming the streets and falling prey to drug abuse.
“The habit of gathering at street corners makes them vulnerable to drugs and drug dealers.
“I strive to instil a mindset that sport can positively change one’s life, save one from any trouble and help one resist the temptation of turning to drugs.”
To holistically groom the players, Molebaloa successfully completed a level 1 coaching and umpiring programme.
He also completed training with the South African Institute for Drug-Free Sport (Saids). Saids’ mission is to detect, deter and prevent the use of prohibited substances and methods in the South African and international sporting environment that are contrary to the principles of fair play and the health of athletes.
Molebaloa maintains that with significant investment in the development of netball in townships, more talent will be fast-tracked and the positive impact on young people broadened.
“Top teams will be able to recruit everywhere and not target developed and feeder schools,” he believes.
