Netball South Africa will dedicate the 2015 Diamond Challenge international series to the victims of xenophobic violence, in what it hopes will be a symbol of peace and reconciliation.
Launched in 2012, the Diamond Challenge is a tournament that pits Africa’s strongest netball nations against each other and serves as a platform for the development of netball in Africa.
Netball SA president Mimi Mthethwa said the federation would like the 2015 Diamond Challenge, which takes place in Durban where the xenophobic violence first erupted earlier this month, to serve as a symbol of peace and unity. The tournament, which runs from June 14 to 18, will feature the national teams of Uganda, Zambia and Malawi each of which has sizeable expatriate communities living in South Africa.
“As Netball South Africa we want to send out a strong message to South Africa and the world that we stand by our African brothers and sisters. We want the world to know that we in the sports community and general populace deplore the senseless acts of violence and displacement of extremely vulnerable communities,” said Mthethwa.
“As the umbrella body for the sport that represents nearly two million active participants we call on all South Africans to take a stand against hatred and discrimination and to end the bloodshed,” she said. “We implore individuals and communities to seek peaceful means of resolving underlying issues and differences.”
“We have always been proud to host our African sisters and compete against them in the spirit of camaraderie and friendship. We want this message of sisterhood and indeed brotherhood to echo loud and clear throughout our various communities destroyed by the violence against foreign nationals,” said Mthethwa. “We hope that in its own small way netball can play a part in the healing process.”
Malawi and South Africa are expected to revive their ongoing rivalry which has seen the two countries battle neck and neck for the top ranking on the continent and the world. The two nations will again lock horns at the 2015 Netball World Cup in Sydney from 7 to 16 August, as they have been seeded in the same pool.
The last Diamond Challenge was held in October 2013 in Port Elizabeth and featured both Zimbabwe and Zambia.
Netball SA Dedicates Diamond Challenge to Fight Against Xenophobia