Photo: Top row (left to right): Danine Derks, Minke Harper, Alisha Derks, Elaine Kangulu and Annika Silver. Bottom row (left to right): Jessica Blaauw, Joeke Janse van Vuuren, Jordyn Maasdorp, Liz-Mare Cordier and Luna Humu.

Ten talented young netball players from Walvis Bay have been selected to represent the Rhino Invitational Team on an international tour to Thailand later this year – an achievement their parents describe as a historic milestone for local netball.

The players earned selection following an outstanding performance at the Rhino Week tournament, held in Vanderbijlpark, South Africa, from 5 to 12 July, where the Namib Diesel Naartjies first team finished as runners-up after facing the Namibian Private Schools (NAPSO) team in the final. The selected players are Danine Derks, Minke Harper, Alisha Derks, Elaine Kangulu, Jessica Blaauw, Joeke Janse van Vuuren, Jordyn Maasdorp, Liz-Mare Cordier, Annika Silver and Luna Humu.

The Rhino Thailand Tour will take place from 28 November to 10 December 2026, providing the players with the opportunity to compete internationally, receive high-performance coaching and gain valuable cultural and leadership experience. The cost of participating in the tour is substantial, and the players’ families have launched several fundraising initiatives to help cover the expenses. These include sponsorship drives, a fundraising dance planned for 19 September and a BackaBuddy campaign.

Community members and businesses who would like to support the players can contribute via the BackaBuddy campaign at: https://www.backabuddy.co.za/campaign/help-9-nam-girls-represent-our-country-in-thailand Every contribution, no matter the amount, will help these young athletes represent Walvis Bay and Namibia on the international stage.

By Eileen van der Schyff