By Reatlegile Ratlagane
The appointment of Dumisani Chauke, Head of Sport and Recreation at the Tshwane University of Technology’s (TUT) Ga-Rankuwa Campus, as the newly elected Director of Coaches for Netball South Africa (NSA), promises to amplify South Africa’s impact in the international netball arena and coach development pathways.
Having been featured in the Momentum documentary “She Owns Her Success”, Chauke, a former national netball player and assistant coach with the SPAR Proteas, brings to her new role a strong track-record of empowering young girls and building coaching capacity. In her NSA role she plans to instil core values of integrity, accountability and teamwork and build a collaborative culture across all levels of coaching.
“As the new leadership, there is no way we will be able to achieve the goals we have for the federation if we work in silos. It is crucial to bring back the spirit of collaboration in everything that we do,” Chauke said.
A new era for coaching and performance
Chauke holds a MASTER COACH accreditation from the South African Sports Coaching Association (SASCA) via the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC) and a Level 4 coaching accreditation - among the highest tiers in the country. Her own experience as a leader on and off the court, fuels her proactive vision for South African netball.
“Leadership is a responsibility. You are accountable for the minds, lives, dreams and aspirations of players, coaches and administrator. It is a responsibility that I do not take lightly,” Chauke said.
As the newly appointed Director of Coaches, Dumisani Chauke is poised not only to transform coaching in South Africa but to elevate the country’s presence and leadership in world netball.
Newly appointed Netball South Africa Director of Coaches, Dumisani Chauke.
An appointment that will impact South Africa internationally
Elevating coaching standards worldwide – With Chauke’s vision to equip coaches from school to university to national level, South African coaches will be better prepared to compete and collaborate globally. She emphasises leadership, management and communication training, not only sport-specific skills.
Strengthening the pipeline of talent – Her advocacy for grassroots programmes means more young girls will be able to access high-quality training and pathways to international competition. She has already invested in community outreach and a foundation to empower girls through netball.
Enhancing South Africa’s global netball reputation – South Africa hosted the 2023 Netball World Cup, its first on African soil. Chauke’s role in advancing coaching infrastructure will further enable the country to host, compete in and contribute to international netball governance and events.
Increasing cross-border collaboration – By emphasising teamwork and breaking down silos, Chauke can foster partnerships with other national federations, global coaching networks and multi-nation training programmes, reinforcing South Africa’s global influence.