For a group of young netball players in Fernie, the journey from first pass to possibility felt a little more real this week as Bongi Msomi joined Telkom’s latest Stand Tall clinic. The clinic brought together aspiring young netball players, coaches, educators and community leaders for a day focused not only on skills development, but on visibility, belief and opportunity, the core ideas behind Telkom’s Stand Tall: From First Pass to Crown.
For many young players, the journey to the national stage begins far from packed arenas and television cameras. It begins on school courts, in local communities, and through the people who choose to invest in them long before anyone else does.
Msomi, a legend of local netball, led the clinic alongside Mpumalanga Sunbirds players Siphokazi Madonsela and Thabi Skhosana, the clinic gave learners from Methula High, Wesley Memorial Primary, Sitanani Primary and Ethembeni Primary School the opportunity to learn from players who have walked the journey themselves, from first pass to the highest levels of the game.
More importantly, it gave young players the opportunity to see what is possible.
“Stand Tall is about making sure young girls can see the pathway in front of them,” said Msomi. “When you come from a small community, seeing someone who has walked the journey before you changes what you believe is possible for yourself. That’s why days like this matter.”
The clinic also formed part of the Telkom Foundation’s broader commitment to youth development and community upliftment through sport, education and opportunity creation.
Through initiatives such as community netball clinics, Telkom is helping ensure that the future of South African netball is not only supported, but seen.
Speaking at the clinic, Telkom Regional Manager for Mpumalanga, Kagiso Ngomezulu, said the initiative was about far more than sport.
“When we say ‘From First Pass to Crown’, we are talking about creating pathways,” said Ngomezulu. “We are saying to young people in communities like Fernie that where you start does not determine where you can finish. Talent exists everywhere, what matters is whether young people are given the opportunity, support and belief to pursue it.”
One of the most powerful moments of the day came through the recognition of Qiniso Dlamini, a dedicated coach from Ethembeni Primary School who was celebrated as the community’s unsung hero.
A qualified coach and umpire, Dlamini has spent years helping grow netball within the community, mentoring young athletes, creating opportunities for learners to compete, and encouraging participation across sub-district, district and regional levels.
His story reflects the heart of Stand Tall: the people behind the game who quietly help shape the next generation long before the spotlight arrives.
“For many years, netball lacked sponsorship and support,” said Dlamini. “Today, our learners can see that organisations like Telkom believe in their potential and are creating opportunities for them. That changes how young people see themselves and their futures.”
To support ongoing development beyond the clinic itself, Telkom donated essential training equipment to the local community, including netballs, training cones, whistles, skipping ropes, water bottles and a first aid kit.Every journey starts somewhere, with the right support, every first pass can become the beginning of something bigger.
