MNUC pioneers talent development in Tanzanian netball

IN an exciting development for netball in Tanzania, the Mbeya Netball Unity Club (MNUC) is taking a groundbreaking approach to nurture young female talent.

By collaborating with school sports teachers, the club aims to identify promising players from primary and secondary schools in Mbeya and surrounding areas, with the vision of elevating netball in the region.

In an exclusive interview with the ‘Daily News’, MNUC Director, George Mackona, elaborated on the club’s strategic focus. He highlighted the challenges of finding girls with netball potential who can be easily trained, emphasising that collaboration with sports teachers at schools is crucial to overcoming obstacles.

“Finding girls with netball talent who can be easily trained is challenging. However, through collaboration with school sports teachers in Mbeya town, we can identify and develop talents while promoting netball as a sport,” Mackona explained.

The collaborative approach not only helps identify talents, but also fosters a love for the game among young girls. Currently, MNUC is actively inspiring young girls to appreciate and engage in netball. The club’s talent-scouting initiative relies heavily on partnerships with sports teachers, creating an encouraging environment for girls to participate.

“The sports teachers support us in reaching students and beyond motivation, we often acknowledge their involvement by awarding certificates when they graduate from primary or secondary school,” Mackona noted, illustrating the mutual benefits of this partnership.

Mackona’s ambitions extend beyond the current six schools’ partnerships; he aims to significantly expand the network. His goal is to connect with more schools, not only within Mbeya but across the Southern Highlands of Tanzania.

“This programme began last year and so far, we have a network of six schools— five secondary schools and one primary school,” he stated. The solid foundation sets the stage for a larger movement to nurture netball talents throughout the region.

Fruits of that initiative are already becoming evident. Through the school programme, MNUC has discovered two promising players, one of whom participated in the National League in August 2024.

“We identified two players during a talent-scouting event at schools in 2023 and one of them was part of our team that participated in this year’s Netball Premier League in August 2024,” Mackona proudly shared.

For 2024, MNUC has successfully identified 20 talents, integrating them into their U-20 squad as part of a robust development plan.

“This year, we have identified 20 talents from schools. These players will be included in our MNUC Under-20 squad and those who demonstrate strong potential will be integrated into the senior team,” he explained.

This initiative not only benefits the students involved but also serves as a valuable platform for MNUC. Through the talent scouting programme, the club promotes its name and garners additional community support.