We caught up with Tayla-Ann Abrahams, the first-team netball captain from Northern Cape High School to hear his thoughts on pre-season preparation, team goals, and what it means to lead with passion and purpose.

How has the team prepared for the season, and what areas of your game have you focused on improving? We’ve worked really hard during pre-season, focusing on fitness, sharpening our passing, and building stronger connections on court. Personally, I’ve been working on improving my decision-making under pressure and my on-court communication. As a team, we’ve placed a big emphasis on playing as a unit and supporting one another both in attack and defence.

What qualities do you think make your team competitive this year?Our resilience and teamwork. No matter what the scoreboard says, we keep fighting and back each other up. Every player can adapt to different positions and game situations, which makes us less predictable and stronger as a team.

What does wearing your school’s netball colours mean to you as a first-team player? It’s a huge honour. Wearing the colours means representing not just my teammates, but also everyone who supports us. It’s about pride, responsibility, and giving my best every time I step onto the court.

What makes the netball environment at your school special, and how does it bring the team together?The support and friendships. Whether it’s the cheers from classmates or the guidance from our coaches, there’s a real sense of belonging. We spend so much time together that we’ve become more like a family. That bond really shows when we play — we trust each other and enjoy every moment, even during tough matches.

What goals has the team set for the upcoming season? Our main goal is to improve with every game. Of course, we’d love to secure some big wins, but more importantly, we want to stay consistent, keep our heads high no matter what, and enjoy the season together. It’s about building confidence and finishing the season stronger than we started.

Which team fixture are you most looking forward to, and why? Definitely the annual Netball Clashes game. It’s always a tough match, but it brings out the best in us and the atmosphere is electric. It’s the one fixture everyone looks forward to — and this year, we’re more motivated than ever to give it everything and deliver our best performance yet.