Sarona Hans - Unstoppable netball champion and future pilot
Hans is a keen netball player with trophies and medals brimming from her drawers. At 21 years, she has already achieved feats that have taken others many years to fulfill. At 17, she was already playing netball for Notwane team, and basketball for the BDF side.
Born and raised in Gaborone but originally from Karakubis village in the Ghanzi district, Hans realised her passion for sport when she was still a learner at Legae primary school. She played basketball and softball at school, and was introduced to netball by her mother, Lucy Hans, who interestingly also has a colourful and impressive record as a former national team netball player.
Hans used to tag along to the Notwane courts with her mother for practice sessions, and soon enough, the then ‘pekenene’, learnt how to grab, hold and throw a ball. Add to that her agile sprint on her long legs, and a gem had been unearthed. Her mother’s teammates and coach soon noticed the young Hans’ talent and encouraged her mother to give her break into the sport.
She then started playing for the Notwane junior team, and the rest, as is often said, is history. Hans soon realised that her sport engagements clash, and after some mulling over, she decided to stick with netball. “I chose netball because it has a higher ranking and nationally, the team does well. It was important for me to travel and exert my sporting talents through challenging myself; netball accorded me that opportunity.”
By the time she was doing her secondary education at St Josephs’ Secondary School, Hans was already a promising netball player commanding a national team spot. Some of her memorable achievements include being captain of the netball national Under-17 team twice, being captain of the Under-21 team, and what’s more she boasts 18 caps! She also enjoyed a stint playing for the Singapore Under-21 team in 2014.
Hans was recently awarded a scholarship to study aviation (commercial pilot license) at Griffith University in Australia. She will be flying out of the country in a few weeks’ time, but she is not lost to Botswana. She has been selected to be part of the team which will represent the country at the World Netball Championship to be held in Botswana next year. Hans cannot contain her excitement over the netball championships coming to Botswana.
“It will not only be an opportunity to put Botswana on the map as a tourist destination, but will offer Batswana an opportunity to see the best of the netball champion teams from across the world. It’s a great feat for our sporting fraternity and nation as a whole and the perfect opportunity for aspirant netball players, and those who enjoy it to experience the best of the sport.”
Hans would like to see more young women taking to sports long-term, citing that being physically active and involving in sporting activities doesn’t only keep the body trim and fit, but also contributes to a healthy mental state, enhances self-esteem, improves social skills and keeps one busy, leaving little time to dabble in undesirable activities.
When she’s not playing netball, Hans enjoys relaxing at home, and occasionally goes out for swimming and to the cinema with her friends.