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31 October 2022 | Story Samkelo Fetile | Photo Tania Allen
Sne Mdletshe
Kovsie netball star and former Proteas netball team under-21 captain Sikholiwe Mdletshe hopes that she will inspire an entire generation both on and off the netball court.
Sikholiwe “Sne” Mdletshe’s passion and performance on the netball court makes her a force to be reckoned with. A fierce sportswoman and strong academic, Sne’s passion for her craft is also about inspiring those around her, and the next generation. This star netball player at the University of the Free State (UFS) scooped several Player of the Match awards during the 2022 Varsity Netball tournament, and she was also a clear crowd favourite. Despite the Kovsie netball team suffering a defeat in the semi-finals against North-West University (NWU), Mdletshe is grateful for the opportunity to live out her passion on the netball court. 

Where it all began

Mdletshe’s love for sports came very early in her life, and it was something for her to savour. “I have always had a passion for sports, whether it was athletics, soccer, or netball. I did it all – from primary school I played all the sports that were there, and in high school as well. I have just always been an active kid, and sports was a way to keep me busy,” she said.

Success and her family’s never-ending support helped motivate her. “My achievements in all the sporting codes really pushed me, from breaking records to getting the victrix ludorum award in Athletics [victrix ludorum is Latin for "the winner of the games", usually presented to the most successful team or competitor at a sports event], to getting Sports Star of the Year. Those were the things that really drove me to pursue and focus on sport. And of course, my family that pushed and supported me every step of the way.”

Balance between academics and sport

In 2019 Mdletshe captained the South African under-21 netball team while completing her BCom Accounting degree (which she completed cum laude). In 2020 she captained the UFS netball team. She also received her first call-up to the national Proteas netball team, for which she now has two caps. In 2021 she completed her BCom Accounting honours degree and is currently pursuing her Postgraduate Diploma in Chartered Accountancy. She believes that it is all possible through balancing, and she also hopes the next generation of students is encouraged to do extramural activities like sport.

“I came to the UFS in 2017 to study and play netball. Throughout the years, my lecturers have really helped me to find the perfect balance between academics and netball. The same can be done for the next generation of students, and a lot more can be achieved, individually and for Kovsie Sport as a programme.”

SA netball making strides

Mdletshe said she is not dissuaded by the slow growth of netball in South Africa. “Netball’s progress in being considered a professional sport in SA is steadily growing. We see the progress made in terms of players being paid to play netball. Earlier this year, a squad of contracted players was announced, and I am really looking forward to seeing some more growth and development in netball as a sport, especially it being considered a professional sport in the country, where many more netball players can be brought into the system. Big tournaments like the Varsity Netball Tournament make me very hopeful, and there is already a significant level of growth and interest shown in the sport. The way things are going gives a lot of encouragement to the younger generation who can possibly pursue netball as a professional career.”

Gratitude to all

Mdletshe gave a lot of praise to the Kovsie community. “I am honoured to have represented the UFS in varsity sports. For my performances, I would like to thank the coach and all my teammates for always pushing me. Gratitude to all the role players and most importantly to all our fans, who came out in numbers to rally behind us.”

She added: “Your journey in sports and in life will not be the same as the person next to you, and do not let that demotivate you. Take your time, make decisions that are best for yourself, and trust that your path will lead you exactly where your heart desires to be.”

News Archive

SA women’s Hockey players give a recount of Hockey World League
2015-07-02

Nicole Walraven and Liné Malan
Photo: Hatsu Mphatsoe

Three of the star players of Kovsies Hockey formed part of the South African Women’s Hockey team, which competed at the Hockey World League (HWL) tournament in Spain.

Hatsu Mphatsoe, student assistant at the Department of Communication and Brand Management, spoke to Nicole Walraven and Liné Malan. Tanya Britz will be returning only at a later stage to South Africa.

As key players in the Kovsies women’s team, Malan and Walraven (along with Britz) have a new wealth of knowledge that could assist the team in their forthcoming USSA tournament. Here are some of the sentiments they had to share:

What was your reaction when you first received the news that you’d be representing the country in Spain?

Liné: “It was a shock to me, I honestly didn’t expect it. At the same time, I was extremely excited to be granted the opportunity to represent my country, and prove my worth to the team.”

Nicole: “I was so excited and felt honoured! To represent my country at such a big tournament is amazing. I was very nervous, but excited.”

How has playing at an international level improved your personal performance and mentality of the game/sport?

Nicole: “Playing at such a high level has helped my hockey immensely. It has helped me read the game better, it has upped my self-confidence, and it has also improved my ability to deal with pressure.”

Liné: “Playing at an international level looks much easier than it is. It is a much faster game, the pressure on the ball is much higher, and the individual skills are on a different level. It has helped me to lift my game, and make decisions much quicker. It has honestly benefitted me as an individual, and I’ve learnt so much from the experience.”

Now that you’ll be going to play at the USSA tournament, what new perspectives do you wish to bring to the team in order to improve its overall performance there?

Nicole: “The importance of teamwork as well as adapting the game plan according to the situation and the opposition. Constant hard work and a never-give-up attitude are vital. One quote that stood out from the tournament is ‘1MT, 1MT’ which stands for ‘1 More Thing, 1 More Time’.

Liné: “Going to USSA, I now have a better understanding of what pressure is, and how to make better decisions. We will still make use of our Kovsies brand of Hockey, which is our passing game, and apply all aspects to the best of our ability.”

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