February 18, 2025

Bongi Msomi’s Legacy Project continues to inspire countless young netball talent

Bongiwe ‘Bongi’ Msomi, the former highly respected captain of the Spar Proteas, South Africa’s national netball team, displayed exceptional leadership, skill, and dedication in a sterling career spanning an impressive 20 years that has undoubtedly elevated her to legendary status and an icon of the sport.

 The 36-year-old led the Spar Proteas with distinction in several international tournaments whilst playing for various netball teams in South Africa and abroad.

Msomi officially announced her retirement from the game after she skippered the Proteas in their home Netball World Cup in Cape Town in August 2023.

She called time on her illustrious career after representing the Rainbow Nation a whopping 171 times – ending as South Africa’s most-capped netball player of all time.

Bongi Msomi in action for the Spar Proteas at the Netball World Cup in Cape Town Pic: Supplied

Born on 19 January 1988 in poverty stricken Hammarsdale, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, Msomi had a chance encounter at the age of 16 when she was asked to fill in while she was watching her friends play.

She didn’t have any training kit or trainers, but immediately made an impression on the coach and was asked to come back the following week.
As they would say, the rest is history.

Throughout her career she not only won numerous awards and accolades for her outstanding performances, but continues to inspire countless young netball players in South Africa and beyond to take up the sport.

“Netball has given me many fantastic opportunities just because someone looked after me.  And I looked at how I can use my experience on how to help others so that they can have more or less the same opportunities that I had without having to pay. It was a thoughtful process to start a project and up until today I am really pleased that I actually did,” says Msomi.

Bongi inspires youngsters at her Legacy Project Pic: Supplied

“After I retired in December last year, the first three months I kind of dedicated to myself just looking after my health. I had a condition that I had to sort out with a quick operation that needed four months recovery which actually went very well,” she explains.

“There are players that are really doing well despite their upbringing and background. There are now enough players that are ambassadors for the sport that the kids that that love the sport can look up to. I think this is something that has changed completely and that is really great for our sport.”

Msomi says her Legacy Project was kick-started in 2018 when she went to Australia where she played in the highest netball league.  She helped one of the Australian players who had a coaching clinic.

“She asked me to speak to the players and they could ask questions. At that time I was already the Spar Proteas captain. She told me I should start something similar at home where I can do life skills as well as netball skills in terms of coaching so that kids could be part of me and my presence. I thought deeply about this. I am naturally a shy person and I thought I could not start a project like that.

Bongi Msomi gives advice to youngsters at her Legacy Project Pic: Supplied

“Initially I just started a  netball clinic to see how that would go. Eventually it got to the point where I’m really excited about it now because we also started academic support in the project. We did it in disadvantaged areas where kids don’t really understand that your grade 11 results need to be good because you would risk not to be accepted at a University.

“It’s amazing to see the excitement in their faces even if kids get a simple thing like a T-shirt. It makes so much of a difference if you know you can play a part in someone’s life. If they don’t have shoes you can contribute towards that.  When I started playing the sport my coach did everything for me. He payed for my netball kit as well as transport. I never had to pay and that is how the project came about.”

Msomi is currently registered as a student at the University of Johannesburg doing an Advanced Diploma in Business Management. She also uses the Bongi Msomi Legacy Project where she continues to up-skill herself being the owner of the project.

“I am looking at opportunities that lies ahead and what other opportunities I can include in the project. I now have time to work on it fully and it’s going really well.”

Being a student at UJ this year Msomi is also part of the SuperSport Leadership 2.o Program developing young leaders in sport.

“I have been privileged enough to be part of this group that going on throughout the year which ends in November this year.

“I am also working full-time at UJ as a netball coach and manager. This involves everything in terms of logistics, transportation, fixtures and everything to do with netball. I also coach the high performance squad – a group of athletes that form part of the team that represent the University throughout the year.

“Bedsides that I have been helping out in the Johannesburg Municipal District in terms of trials for coaching.”

Bongi Msomi says apparel sponsor Puma has played played a huge role in her career. Pic Supplied

For Msomi it’s part of upskilling herself in terms of coaching because she has aspirations of one day becoming the Proteas coach.

“I like the idea of coaching at district level. Obviously want to see how far I can go up the ranks because I would like to one day become coach of the Proteas especially because I have been part of the Spar Proteas for years. But I wouldn’t want to do that if I am not ready as a coach,” she explains.

“It’s a long term dream. Like I said I am coaching at the University and I am already trying to be part of the district coaching. The next step would be to be part of the Telkom Netball League which lead up to my goal to coach at national level.”

In the meantime Msomi has had to put her commentary aspirations on hold because she is also currently studying, but it’s something she believes she can look at for next year.

Msomi admits when she grew up there were no role models for her to look up to playing netball at national level. It was therefore not an easy journey.

“Netball has changed over the years with the make-up of the team in terms of representing who we are as a country. South Africa is diverse and netball is currently a true reflection of who we are.

“The role models that the kids can look up to are so diverse. They can now actually relate to a particular person because of the numbers and the mixture of the group.

“Diversity is our strength. When you’re part of the national team you not only look after yourself but also care about those (players) who come after you.”

“An opportunity given to players of different languages and skin colour allows the national team to influence kids from all backgrounds. Every player brings something different and the unity that the team brings is also a big advantage for the team going forward.”

Msomi also thinks it’s important that players look ahead in their careers and take the opportunity to play overseas because they then tend to think of it as a job in terms of just sport.

“There are certain roles that you need to fulfill and certain demands that you have to meet especially being professional in your approach,” she says about her experience of playing outside of the country.

“It’s performance based and you have to pull your weight for the club to do well. So, everyone in the clubs starts to think as a group as to how to come out with the desired results. You happen to be part of all those things because of different cultures. When you come home you can teach others what you have learnt.”

Msomi says for a person like her coming from a tough background, she was exposed to a lot of things. She  had to look at her time management and make sure she met her goals.

“I played against international competition which was great for my confidence. It becomes part of a job and the way you think changes straight away. There are demands that you have to meet. Besides the demands you have to act in a professional manner and have to perform. When you are part of different clubs you learn different cultures.

“You up-skill  yourself and bring that back with you when you come home. In our country netball is still semi-professional. But if you go overseas you get paid to play the sport.  You also have bills to pay. Sport can also assist in that sense, so it’s a fantastic opportunity that one can explore.”

Msomi was also full of praise for a brand like Spar for supporting netball in South Africa for more than 20 years. She is also grateful for Puma also coming aboard with Netball South Africa and feels honoured to be managed by a high calibre international  brand like Roc Nation Sports.

 

 

 

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