Just from reading the headline itself, chances are that most people, particularly men, raised their eyebrows and some curiosity crept in, as the thought of seeing men playing netball remains a taboo in modern South African society.
Due to that, the South African men’s national netball team coach, Shiko Mokaila, is on a serious mission to change that perception and advocate for more men to get involved in netball, as it is now taking a whole new turn.
The men’s netball team faced Australia in a three-match curtain-raiser series during the Spar Challenge last month, as they look to build and look ahead to the first-ever Men’s Netball World Cup in 2028.
“There is a metamorphosis … Obviously, with the history of the sport, that if you play netball as a male, there then becomes a particular perception around that,” Mokaila said in an exclusive interview with Sunday World.
“So, coming into office, I think one of the major things that I want to work on is to make sure that we curb that and make people understand that this is just a sport like football or cricket. So, we need to just bridge the gap and make sure that sport is for all and is not based on gender.
“What is important now is for people [young boys] to just play. I always say if there’s a ground wherever you’re coming from, where you stay, you see people play, join in, and play because that is how we are going to be able to bridge the gap.
“But it’s also important, we need to play our part in educating and changing minds as well, because people need to understand netball is for everyone,” he added.
Mokaila is a former SA men’s national netball team player and captain, who enjoyed a distinguished 15-year career playing netball at the highest level. He announced his retirement in 2023 after the Africa Netball Cup in Botswana and was recently appointed as the national team coach on a four-year contract.
“I am extremely happy and, at the same time, deeply humbled to be the coach of the national team. I am very passionate about men’s netball, and it is an honour to lead a team that has given me so much.
“I am committed to giving my all to compete, to challenge for top honours, and to win. A great deal of solid work has already been done, and my role is to continue building on the foundation laid by those who came before me,” Mokaila said.
The 36-year-old also shared a bit of background about himself and where his love and tale with netball started.
“I am just an ordinary guy from Mohlakeng in Randfontein, Gauteng, and I started playing netball at a very young age. Growing up as a passionate netball player, we did not have opportunities at all, but because of my love for netball, I stuck it out for about 22 years, practically all my life, until I was made the national team captain, I think around 2017, and the rest is history.
“So, I am quite excited about stepping into a coaching role and can’t wait to see what it holds for me,” Mokaila concluded.
