SPORT NEWS - The Eden U19 netball team has made the district proud after finishing sixth at the 2026 Telkom National Junior Championships in Johannesburg from 5 to 10 July.

The team improved on last year's 11th-place finish, climbing five places in a tournament featuring the country's strongest district teams.

Eden Netball chairperson René Booysen praised the players for their commitment and performance.

"Our players represented Eden with pride, passion, resilience and professionalism. Finishing sixth at a competition of this calibre is a remarkable achievement and reflects the dedication of our players, coaches, officials, parents and supporters," she said.

A major highlight for Eden was the performance of Alaina Sowden, who was identified by national selectors as a Talent Identified (TID) player. She was named among the tournament's top eight players from hundreds of athletes who competed.

Booysen said the recognition reflects Alaina's talent, consistency and potential and is a significant achievement for both the player and the district.

Eden Netball also thanked the team's coaching and management staff, parents, sponsors and supporters for making the trip to the national championships possible.

"We are especially grateful to the sponsors who continue to invest in women's sport and create opportunities for our young players," the federation said.

Special recognition was given to head coach Danel Frans, manager René Booysen, technical official Geraldine Saayman and timekeeper Glenvernique Jordaan for their work with the team.

The result confirms Eden's continued growth in junior netball and highlights the district's ability to develop players capable of competing at the highest level.

This version is more in line with a local newspaper report: concise, factual, and focused on the newsworthy achievements while keeping the quotes to a minimum.

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