Gauteng All-Star Games returns bigger with Netball!

After a fruitful launch in 2019, SportSense in partnership with the Department of Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation is set to host the much-anticipated second edition of the Gauteng All-Star Games.

This unparalleled, one-day sporting extravaganza will now include netball, one of the country’s most popular sporting codes, in addition to women’s football.

The Gauteng All-Star Games were officially launched at the Johannesburg Stadium on March 5. The gathering also had guests from various sponsors and sporting authorities.

The tournament will take place at Tsakane Stadium in Tsakane, Ekurhuleni on Sunday, March 22.

Entry will be FREE for all members of the public.

“The Gauteng All-Star Games is a premier tournament which creates an opportunity to high-level access to competition for women’s sport. It also creates awareness and encourages young girls to continue participating in sport, especially since they get to mingle with their sporting heroes,” said Moonira Ramathula, Gauteng All-Star Games Tournament Director.

“The addition of netball to the tournament helps further emphasize our aims to holistically grow women’s sport, in terms of participation and garnering the support of the wider public” Ramathula added.

The four teams in each sport – featuring the best of the past, present and future – will be captained by some of the biggest names of the game.

The football teams will be led by current Banyana Banyana captain Janine van Wyk, along with Banyana alumni, Portia Modise, Lydia Monyepao and Hilda Magaia.

While former player and now SPAR Proteas assistant coach, Dumi Chauke, along with Nonhle Gwavu, Mampho Tsotetsi and Simi Mdaka will be skippering the new netball All-Star teams.

Both football and netball matches will take place simultaneously, and will see a mix of international experience and youthful exuberance on display when current and legendary Banyana Banyana and SPAR Proteas players play with and against youngsters from the respective regional and provincial levels, including the Sasol Gauteng Women’s League and Telkom Netball League.

“Women’s sport in the province remains a priority and it is with great pleasure to once again be a part of this one-of-a-kind sporting event, following last year’s hugely successful tournament,” Gauteng MEC for Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation, Mbali Hlophe.

“A big thank you goes to the City of Ekurhuleni, who will host the tournament for the second year in a row and I plead with all stakeholders, family and friends, sports fans and all followers of women’s sport to come and join us in empowering and uplifting these talented athletes.”

“The opportunity for Netball to be included in the Gauteng All-Stars Games is seen as a celebration of deep vertical roots by those who walked a journey in netball, our heroes and provincial legends.” Gauteng Netball President, Riana Bezuidenhout commented.

“Deeply earned over years of participation, embracing of opportunities, changing of structures and staying within the four lines on and off-court. Today, these All-Star players celebrate womanhood, otherhood, sisterhood and adulthood. The strong passion for netball visible as a sorority of women in sport and legends in all spheres of life.

“Follow your passion and come and support our Netball legends in the Gauteng All-Stars Game,” commented Gauteng Netball President, Riana Bezuidenhout.

Similar to last year, the Gauteng All-star Games, in partnership with the City of Ekurhuleni will continue their mission to leave a lasting legacy for the community. The teams will host coaching clinics at for several schools in and around the Tsakane community to help encourage future generations to partake in sport.