I’m growing as a player and I’m happy with what I've achieved

Gauteng, Jaguars star playing her best netball game

As much as Tshina Mdau was proud to win the Spar National Championships and the Brutal Fruit Netball Premier League (BFNPL) with Gauteng and Jaguars respectively, representing the national team remains her ultimate dream.

In June, Mdau played a pivotal role in assisting her Gauteng-based netball franchise, Jaguars, to clinch the BFNPL title. A fortnight ago, the 23-year-old’s versatility and sublime performances aided her side Gauteng to beat defending champions Western Cape to be the new national championships title holders.

Notwithstanding her achievements this year, it seems as if Mdau won’t rest on her laurels, at least not until she gets a nod in the Spar Proteas team, although she believes it will come in good time.

“This year I have been playing good netball. I am growing as a player and I am happy about what I have achieved.

Playing for the national team is my biggest dream, but I think it will happen in due course because I am still young,” said Mdau who also plays for the University of Pretoria.

The Joburg-born player is juggling her netball career with her studies. She is studying towards a diploma in agricultural economics and stressed the importance of education when you are an athlete. “You cannot rely on netball only, you must enhance yourself with education. When I am not playing netball, I spend time studying. I am doing my final year. In the future I hope that I will have a job, but I would still be involved with the game of netball.” Unlike other sporting codes such as football and rugby, in SA playing netball professionally does not pay, but players receive allowances. However, Mdau feels passion should drive whomever wants to be a netballer. “Netball is not a paying sport in South Africa. It is a hobby to me. You must be passionate about the game itself. “This sport is different from other sports because of that,” she stated.

Mdau is a versatile player who can play two roles as wing-attack or wing-defend.

/REG CALDECOTT/ GALLO IMAGES Tshina Mdau in action at the national netball championships in Durban earlier this month.

Tshina Mdau has grown as a player.