Two Grade 11 learners from Reddam House Bedfordview, Nicole Klinkert and Caitlin Scrimgeour, have been selected to represent South Africa at the 2026 WINA Super World Cup, which will be hosted in South Africa next August.Nicole has been selected for the SA U19 ladies’ team, while Caitlin will don the green and gold for the SA U19 mixed team. Both athletes play indoor netball for Eastern Gauteng in the U17 A division, which won the 2025 Inter-Provincial Tournament.

College Head of Sport, Marius Venter, said their achievement reflects the high-performance culture that has been built at Reddam House Bedfordview. “It’s a proud moment for our school and a clear reflection of the exceptional sporting culture we’ve built at Reddam House Bedfordview,” he said. “Nicole and Caitlin’s achievement shows the high level of dedication, discipline and skill that is nurtured through our sports programme.”He credited the strength of the coaching team and the school’s structured approach to performance for helping athletes step up to provincial and now national level. “All our coaches have competed, umpired or coached at provincial or national level. Combined with a refined sports psychology and high-performance training programme, our athletes are given the ideal platform to reach the next level. Their growth is a testament to the collaboration between our coaches, parents and the girls themselves,” Venter explained.

Cairlin Scrimgeour

He said both players stand out for their attitude as much as their talent. “They bring energy, humility and an unwavering work ethic to every training session and match. They balance competitiveness with sportsmanship, and that combination of character and commitment makes them stand out both as players and as people.”Venter believes their success has a powerful ripple effect across the Reddam House Bedfordview sports community. “Success stories like Nicole and Caitlin’s inspire belief – they show other students that with passion, perseverance and discipline, extraordinary goals are achievable. When younger or less experienced athletes train and compete alongside players of their calibre, and are nurtured and uplifted by them, they begin to believe in their own potential and often perform beyond their own expectations,” he said.

For Caitlin, selection for the World Cup was “an incredible moment, filled with a mix of emotions”. She is particularly excited to test herself against some of the strongest indoor netball nations in the world. “It is an honour to be competing against people from overseas – I’m looking forward to the high level of competition and the chance to see some of the world’s best players in action,” she said. “The biggest lessons so far have been the importance of teamwork, communication and adaptability.”Nicole described hearing the news after an injury scare as a huge relief. “I was super excited to be selected to play for SA. Leading up to selections, I was worried because I had torn ligaments in my foot and I was concerned that this injury would affect my selection. When I found out that I had made the final team, I was incredibly proud and very happy to be given this opportunity.”

Nicole Klinkert

She is looking forward to the build-up as much as the tournament itself. “What I’m looking forward to the most is working hard leading up to the World Cup – training as much as I can so I can perform at my best. I’m also looking forward to getting to know my teammates better, making friends from different countries and learning how different countries play netball.”Both players credit Eastern Gauteng and their long-standing team environment for preparing them for international competition, and both emphasise that netball is, above all, about the team.“Our IPT team, Eastern Gauteng, is a super strong team that I have been growing up with since I was about 12 years old,” Nicole said. “We have formed such strong connections, and this bond really helps the team play better. It’s about the team and not just about good individual players.”

Caitlin said managing exams, training and preparation for a tournament of this scale comes down to good habits and communication. “Having very good time management, adopting strong study habits and maintaining open communication with my coaches and teachers, while looking after my physical and mental well-being,” she explained.Both learners are clear about what wearing the green and gold means to them. “I am so grateful and proud to be representing South Africa, and it’s an achievement I have been striving towards and have worked hard for a very long time,” Caitlin said.“It still doesn’t feel real to me that I am going to represent my country,” Nicole added. “Being selected to play for SA is more than an honour to me – it does not get better than this, and you don’t get more privileged than this, so I am willing to do whatever it takes to represent SA well.”Their message to younger Reddam players coming through the system is simple: “Never give up, always give of your best, have a positive attitude and show up and put in the work even on days when you don’t feel like it,” said Caitlin. Nicole added: “Remember that pressure is a privilege. It is so important to work hard for the things that you want and appreciate when you get a blessing, even though it may bring you stress. Pressure is what makes diamonds.”