CHARLES Duna Primary School educator, Zonwabele Victor Hlulani, launched a handball programme in township schools and areas in 1994 and has since produced many national players.
According to Hlulani, soccer, athletics, rugby and cricket were the only the popular sport codes played in the township schools at that time, so he decided to start a handball programme, along with other educators. He has also played handball since 1994 and is a coach and administrator in the handball structure.
Hlulani said that Vuyisile Viva Mguda, NMB DSRAC officials, Eado Suka and Monde Tyaliti, and Thembisa Vandala-Ndabeni, started the programme after they were recruited by the late DSRAC official, Vuyisile Toto Koom to the handball programme.
“Handball to was introduced to us by Germans, who taught us the basics of the game.
“In 1995, the Germans came back to do the second phase of handball coaching.
“I took that opportunity with both hands. Eventually we founded a handball team for the Eastern Province that played against RAMS, Gugulethu and Kagiso Handball Clubs.”
Hlulani stated that the programme gained more momentum after a group, representing the Swedish Handball Federation, came to the Eastern Cape for coaching clinics from 1998 to 2000.
Hlulani stated that while the Swedish group was visiting, he obtained his level two coaching certificate. Finally, Hlulani and the other officials obtained the highest level, being awarded “Coach The Coaches” certificates from the Swedish Handball Federation.
“After the course, we were told by the Swedish coaches to form clubs in our areas and at our schools. We heeded to the Swedish coaches’ call.
“I formed Flying Eagles HBC, Mguda formed Vuku Stars HBC, Tyaliti and Koom formed New Brighton Ladies HBC, and Mfundo Xesi and Mzukisi Kolosa formed Foot Steppers HBC.
“The municipality and DSRAC were in full support of the programme. But some teams did not honour their games at Lillian Ngoyi Indoor Sports Complex in KwaZakhele,” he said.
Hlulani mentioned that in 2002, the Germans returned to the Eastern Cape to do an advanced coaching course, which was theoretical and practical and was held at Cape College.
He obtained a certificate from that coaching course. Then PE Vikings HBC was formed and it represented the region in the provincial and national tournaments. Hlulani was elected as the first Vikings’ head coach and guided his club to many victories.
Hlulani added that he and Sibongile Lawana went to Germany as the Eastern Cape ambassadors of handball in 2011. Today Samkelo Dumse is part of an exchange programme in Germany, because of Hlulani who formed Kempa United Handball, in KwaDwesi, in 2018.
