Diski99 Brings The Best of Local School Talent to Thabong
The who’s who of Free State provincial government and Gauteng sport enthusiasts will converge in Thabong, Welkom to witness raw emerging talent being nurtured to advance sports in the sleepy town of “happiness”.
Thabong, as preparations intensify for the Diski99 Championship taking place at Zuka Baloyi Stadium on Saturday (November 29), will host 16 schools from Primary to Secondary who will be competing for top honours, as the event raises its head again after missing out in 2024.
This year’s championship comes as the Free State Department of Sport, Arts and Culture (DSAC) finalises a strengthened partnership with Net Nine Nine (Net99) for the third edition of the Diski99 Tournament.
The collaboration reinforces a shared commitment to expanding grassroots football, driving youth development, and building sustainable sporting pathways across the province.
The renewed partnership follows a strategic meeting between the MEC for Sport, Arts and Culture, Ntombizanele Sifuba, senior departmental directors Vincent Khetha and Kutlwano Tlhakudi, and Net Nine Nine’s Group Chief-of-Staff.
The engagement set the tone for a broader, more impactful tournament designed to reach more communities and amplify opportunities for young athletes.
Building on the success of the inaugural tournament, this edition aims to introduce enhanced development components, focusing not only on football and netball excellence but also on leadership, discipline, mentorship, and life skills.
The championship at Zuka Baloyi Stadium forms a crucial preview of what lies ahead – a showcase of talent, community pride, and sporting ambition for youngsters who would be out to impress talent scouts invited to attend the event.
Sifuba reaffirmed the Department’s commitment to stakeholder partnerships that strengthen grassroots participation, and a recent meeting with Head of Department Molato Tshabalala has amplified the dreams and wishes of Thipe to see school sport revived.
“We welcome this continued collaboration with Net Nine Nine. Through the Diski99 platform, we are able to provide young people with meaningful opportunities to showcase their abilities, while promoting values of teamwork, excellence, and resilience. Diski99 tournament advance our vision of a vibrant, inclusive sporting culture in the Free State,” said Tshabalala who will be attending.
Net Nine Nine’s Chief of Staff highlighted the company’s long-term dedication to community upliftment, as it has been the case in all eight provinces across the country.
“Net Nine Nine remains committed to investing in programmes that make a tangible difference in the lives of young South Africans. This is dear to my heart, it’s very personal and I would like to see emerging nurtured,” said Thipe.
“The Diski99 Championship is an important milestone, and together with the Free State Department of Sport, Arts and Culture, we are positioned to elevate youth development through sport.”
The collaboration discussions took place shortly after Free State successfully hosted the OR Tambo Memorial Lecture a fortnight ago, a key event in honour of the late liberation leader Oliver Reginald Tambo.
As part of OR Tambo Month commemorations, the lecture, led by Sifuba, underscored themes of unity, service, and leadership, which closely align with the values at the core of the Diski99 initiative.
With high anticipation building for November 29, the Diski99 Championship promises to bring communities together, inspire young talent, and reaffirm the power of sport as a catalyst for social change.
SOCCER FIXTURES:
Teto High v Thotagauta Secondary
Lebogang Secondary v Welkom High School
Leseding Secondary v Letsete High School
Nanabolela High School v Lephola High School
NETBALL FIXTURES:
Majaho Primary School v Aurora Primary School
Thabong Primary School v Naudeville Primary School
Tswelopele Primary School v Seabo Primary School
Mantshebo Primary School v Hlolohelo Primary School
