Muhluri Hlatshwayo, an emerging netball player from Malamulele Section A, is making her mark on the international stage. She is currently playing for the Putrajaya Dynamites in the Malaysian Netball Super League (NSL).
Hlatshwayo, a third-year diploma in accountancy student at the University of Johannesburg (UJ), became a regular player in the UJ team after previously representing the Limpopo Baobabs. The transition from UJ and the Limpopo Baobabs to the Putrajaya Dynamites has played a key role in her growth as a player, challenging her to adapt to a new team and different dynamics.
"It really shaped me a lot as a player coming to the Putrajaya Dynamites. I had to get used to playing with new teammates. Even though it's the same game, it feels different after being used to playing for UJ for years," she said.
Balancing her netball career with her studies has been challenging, and Hlatshwayo remains uncertain about whether she will pursue netball full-time in the future. "We train late after classes. I don't know yet if I want to make netball my career—only time will tell," she said.
Hlatshwayo credits her coach, Bongiwe Msomi, for having the biggest impact on her journey. "She believed in me when no one did. I used to play basketball, and when I joined the UJ netball team in 2021, I had no netball experience. Coach Bongi taught me from scratch, so I'm really grateful to her," she explained.
She also acknowledges her parents' unwavering support. "I wouldn't have played netball without their encouragement. My dad used to take me to all my training sessions in Venda since there was no team in Malamulele," she said.