Scholar footballer Kat Malebana and scholar cricketers Jemma Botha and Jess Candler accepted video requests from gsport to share how they’re going about prepping for #BackToSchool2025. Image: gsport

We have come to that time of year when children all over South Africa are preparing for the start of the school year. The same goes for the young sportswomen of Mzansi, who, like their peers, are getting everything in order. 

Going to a World Cup while attending school is something only a selected few experience, and one of those people is Jemma Botha. The 17-year-old from Wynberg Girls School in Cape Town is part of the U19 South African Women’s Cricket team, which is heading off to Malaysia for the U19 T20 World Cup, which gets underway on 18 January 2025. 

Botha says much of her preparation doesn’t differ much from others as she balances her academics and cricket. 

“When preparing for school, I do what everyone else does, I get my books and my stationary in order and make sure that I don’t have anything missing for the start of school. How do I balance school and cricket in the week? I know from Monday to Friday 8 am-3 pm is school and then 3 pm-7 pm is cricket. Then after 7 pm I usually do any extra work that is needed, I also have a tutor that helps me with more difficult subjects.” 

To ensure that she doesn’t fall behind on school work an educator will accompany them for the duration of the tournament, as her team members are also in school. 

“I will stay up to date with school while I am at the World Cup as we have an educator that is traveling with us and he will make sure that I am doing my work and my school will be sending me lots of work. I also have someone at school who is taking notes for me to make sure that I don’t fall behind on any notes”, Botha said. 

Junior women’s football star Kat Malebana is also on official assignment as she, along with her team, the U17 South African Women’s team played in their first leg U17 Women’s World Cup qualifier in Franceville Gabon on Saturday, 11 January 2025. 

Malebana says she prioritised reading up on the subjects she will be doing in Grade 10.

“I would like to say compliments of the year, hopefully, this year comes with great things for everyone. This is how I prepare to start school: a few weeks before I made sure that I  read up on the subjects that I chose for Grade 10. I chose difficult subjects because I love challenges. I am also an athlete I must be able to balance my academics and sport.”

The teenager says she is able to focus on her sport but has to balance her football career with her schooling career, so preparing is of utmost importance. 

“My school, is a sports school so I am able to do sports during school hours. (When it comes to school) I make sure I pack my books, I pack my soccer boots before I go to school. I just make sure that I do my reading, I prepare for school, and also train because I know when I come back it’s pre-season and it’s going to be tough and just working hard every day”, she added. 

Jess Candler is also in the business of having to juggle her schooling career as well as playing cricket. The Howick High student plays first-team cricket for school as well as dons the colours of club side, DHS Rhythm. 

She explains just what she does to ensure she is ready for what 2025 will bring her way when it comes to school and her sport. 

“It’s that time of the year to get ready for the new school year ahead of us. At the moment I am preparing myself mentally and physically for Grade 11, by not only getting stationary ready but also preparing myself for the cricket season, especially after the long holiday we have just had. I have got a long season ahead, as I end my provincial season at the end of January. I am playing club cricket for DHS Rhythm in Durban as well as first-team cricket at school, so I am working hard in the gym and in the nets.”

Candler explained cricket takes her away from her daily academic activities so time management is something she has perfected in order to not fall behind with her school work. 

“Obviously I miss quite a bit of school with cricket, I try my best to manage my time effectively and get the school work I miss done as soon as I can. I am excited to get back to school as well as cricket, and I am hoping for a good year ahead.”


Main Photo Caption: Scholar footballer Kat Malebana and scholar cricketers Jemma Botha and Jess Candler accepted video requests from gsport to share how they’re going about prepping for #BackToSchool2025. Image: gsport 

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