King Cetshwayo Hold Their Nerve In Thriller To Claim KZN U17 Netball Glory In Durban
King Cetshwayo District have been crowned champions of the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Sport, Arts and Culture (DSAC) Under-17 Netball Club Development Tournament after edging UThukela District 16-14 in a thrilling final at Hutchison Park in Amanzimtoti, Durban, on Sunday.
The closely contested final delivered plenty of excitement, with both teams displaying determination and skill as they battled for the provincial title. However, King Cetshwayo held their nerve in the closing stages to secure a narrow two-goal victory and lift the coveted trophy.
UThukela had to settle for second place, while Harry Gwala District claimed the bronze medal after defeating Ilembe District in the third-place playoff.
Earlier in the day, King Cetshwayo booked their place in the final with a semi-final victory over Harry Gwala, while UThukela secured their spot in the title decider after overcoming Ilembe.
The two-day tournament, hosted by the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Sport, Arts and Culture under the leadership of MEC Mntomuhle Khawula, in partnership with Netball KZN, brought together clubs from all 11 districts across the province.
The competition formed part of ongoing efforts to strengthen grassroots netball structures, provide young players with opportunities to showcase their talent and promote the development of the sport across KwaZulu-Natal.
The event also placed emphasis on developing officials, with development umpires taking charge of matches and receiving grading as part of the Department’s holistic approach to sport development.
King Cetshwayo’s triumph capped an exciting two days of competition, highlighting the depth of young netball talent across the province.
Final standings:
- King Cetshwayo
- UThukela
- Harry Gwala
- Ilembe
- Zululand
- Amajuba
- uMgungundlovu
- uMkhanyakude
- eThekwini
- Ugu
- uMzinyathi
The tournament provided a valuable platform for emerging players to gain competitive experience while strengthening the future of netball in KwaZulu-Natal.
