Netball stalwart still ‘in the game’
RANUGA Naidoo (72) is a stalwart of the local netball fraternity, having been actively involved in sports development for over 20 years from 1971 to 1993 under the non-racial sports organisation structures.
Some of the local stalwarts who were once under Naidoo’s guidance included Thilo Moodley, the first KwaZulu-Natal player to receive Sasssa (South African Senior Schools Sports Association) colours, Saras Naidoo, Jenny Gopal and Radha Ali, who all achieved provincial colours, as well as Desiree Vardhan who has become a national sports administrator.
Growing up in rural Umhlatuzana, Naidoo hailed from an ordinary family that placed a big emphasis on education.
As a result of apartheid policies, she never had the opportunity to hone her craft under advanced structures but this did not deter her passion for sport and netball.
“The exposure to sport was limited. I always had a passion for sports. I loved the adventurous life and outdoor activities. As soon as I finished my matric at Durban Indian Girls High School, I attended Springfield Training College where we were given bursaries to study teaching and we were assured of jobs after we qualified.
“I still wanted to do something in Physical Education and did crash courses in physical education, umpiring and so on,” said Naidoo.
During her time as the president of the Natal High Schools Netball Association, Naidoo helped to conduct workshops and training clinics for players and administrators (coaches, umpires, time keepers and referees) of schools which were affiliated to the association.
“Workshops and clinics were conducted for the affiliated schools throughout the province, especially in Chatsworth, Phoenix, Estcourt and Pietermaritzburg.
“As the interest in the game increased, I had the opportunity of conducting workshops through the department of education for more schools in KZN,” said Naidoo.
During her stint with Meadowlands Secondary School, where she also served as an educator, Naidoo established the Meadowlands Netball Club and later the Apollo Netball Club which were both affiliated to the Kharwastan Sports Union and participated in the netball league. In order to accommodate adult netball enthusiasts, Naidoo played a role in the formation of the Atlanta Sporting Club which was affiliated to the Chatsworth Netball Union, an affiliate of Netball South Africa.
She was appointed as the president of the Southern Coastal Netball Association in 1999.
“Part of my responsibilities were to set up workshops and organise championships for associations affiliated to this organisation.
“I was also appointed by Netball South Africa to convene their National Netball League Championships for the Southern Coastal area,” said Naidoo.
As a result of her commitment towards the promotion and development of netball locally, Naidoo was a recipient of the KwaZulu-Natal Premier’s Sports Award for her contributions towards the game in 2002.
Naidoo retired as principal of Apollo Secondary School in 2013.
However, her passion for netball lives on as she continues to be involved in the affairs of the Chatsworth-based Atlanta Sporting Club.