Bongiwe Msomi

"It was amazing for me to witness these young South Africans seeing a future for themselves in netball."

"Netball is an easy sport – all you need is a ball and a bit of space. Everyone can understand it and relate to it, no matter who they are and which part of the country they’re from."

"People have commented that when we walk onto court, we move as one – and that’s how it feels. We want this culture to trickle down to netball at every level. We need to respect and support one another so that we can be united. Then, everything else will fall into place."

"I believe strongly that you can’t just stick to making your home better – you can drive just 100km down the road and find a life that you can change in an instant. And that’s the stuff I’m really looking forward to."

"I will remain a proud ambassador for the beautiful sport of netball, and I will remain fully committed to maintaining my humanitarian and philanthropic endeavours."

"The passion I have for netball is at another level."

"Netball has given me many fantastic opportunities just because someone looked after me. And I looked at how I can use my experience on how to help others so that they can have more or less the same opportunities that I had without having to pay. It was a thoughtful process to start a project and up until today I am really pleased that I actually did."

"There are players that are really doing well despite their upbringing and background."

"It makes so much of a difference if you know you can play a part in someone’s life. If they don’t have shoes you can contribute towards that."

"Netball has changed over the years with the make-up of the team in terms of representing who we are as a country. South Africa is diverse and netball is currently a true reflection of who we are."

"The role models that the kids can look up to are so diverse. They can now actually relate to a particular person because of the numbers and the mixture of the group."

"Diversity is our strength."

"An opportunity given to players of different languages and skin colour allows the national team to influence kids from all backgrounds. Every player brings something different and the unity that the team brings is also a big advantage for the team going forward."

"You also have bills to pay. Sport can also assist in that sense, so it’s a fantastic opportunity that one can explore."

"I always had a support system even outside my family through Netball. I’ve seen first hand how netball can change one’s life through guidance, support and opportunities!"

"This for me is what I take from the sport and will always hold dear to my heart. Through this, I’ve learnt to love the sport and the competition. I’ve learnt to grow from the challenges and take advantage of the opportunities to discover myself continuously and to live limitlessly."

"I have always enjoyed working with people and wanting to help where I can while showing them respect. When it comes to leadership, I don’t think there’s an exact way of leading people, every situation calls for a different type of leadership. Some situations require you to involve everyone and get their opinions, and other situations require you to give direction. Knowing the fine line between the two and being unbiased is what separates a leader from a great leader."

"Personally, I prefer to be respected than liked because with respect comes understanding and value in my teachings."

"All I know is what you see is what you get."

"Investment in women’s sport has grown tremendously. However, there’s still a lot of room for growth. Women’s sport needs long term sponsorships to invest in the growth of the sport. I have seen big corporations show up to major events however, do not continue their investment within the sports afterwards. Inconsistent sponsorships do not allow development and sustainability for the longevity of the sport."

"There’s room for growth through the opportunities that constantly arise, the rules adaptations and the potential careers within and through the sport."

"I have learnt that I am more than who I perceived myself to be before the sport. The sport has shown me that I have a lot more to offer and my potential is limitless."

"Do not be misled by the glitz and glamour of what you see now. There is a lot of work being done behind the scenes for many years; late nights, challenges and sacrifices. It’s the positive mindset, commitment, passion and continuous hard work behind the scenes that will set you apart from the rest. Your drive and determination will determine your path in your journey."

"Every encounter has added to the person I am today. I am blessed."

"As a woman in sport, there are areas where we can still be better but now and then I look back and think about those who changed things for us or played their part in making sure that in a few days, we can celebrate Freedom Day."

"Women are getting to sit at big seats at the table, and this makes me proud."

"Cherish that moment because it’s not guaranteed, nothing in sport is a lifetime thing, it’s really about that time when you are still able to and can still run around injury-free and healthy."

"I like experiencing progress and I always think it is best for the future. I can proudly say that amongst all the black players in the Spar Proteas‚ none of them would say they feel marginalised or ill-treated because of their skin colour because we all matter."

"We black people sometimes do treat white people differently to how we treat other blacks."

"I have been in a situation where I needed assistance at a hospital from a black lady with my mom and I had to wait. Right at that space‚ a white man came with more or less the same request and was assisted immediately."

"Random situations where I had to say ‘sorry I didn’t hear’‚ but the conversation or coaching was in Afrikaans‚ which used to be a norm."

"I have to thank God for the idea of knowing when to take one big decision, moving forward into the next level, not just my netball career but my life in general."

"Because I know if anyone is given a chance, are supported fully and obviously given the right information, they can actually be as big as they want to be. I love that I am seeing this with the girls."

"Every time my name is announced in the national squad there is a feeling of excitement."

"I love having the opportunity to help empower women and I want to give hope to all girls in the South African community."

"Sport has the power to change things. For instance, I have become much more confident from being involved in netball."

"I am extremely proud of what I have achieved and am grateful to many people behind the scenes who have made this all possible."

"I believe that passion, leadership skills, valuable knowledge and experience, confidence, fairness, and time management make a good coach."

"I don’t know where I would be without netball. It gave me an opportunity to travel the world, represent my country, make an income and to be a beacon of hope and inspiration for all the young girls who have dreams of following in my footsteps."

"Anything is possible through hard work and determination. I didn’t ever think that my life would turn out this way coming from poverty and lack of resources. I am so grateful for what netball has brought into my life."

"Whatever you want to work towards or whatever you want to achieve, it doesn’t matter who you are, your height, or whatever your circumstances are, you can achieve it and it comes with a lot of hard work."

"I would like to offer a piece of advice to the incoming captain; refrain from micromanaging, avoid biases, adopt a generous approach, prioritize fairness, uphold respect, and lead by example. Base your decision on facts and align with the federation’s objectives. Don’t hesitate to seek clarification by asking questions."