Tsakani – Phindile Ndlovu (15) will represent Gauteng at the 2025 South African National Youth, Seniors and Masters Darts Championships in KwaZulu-Natal from July 13 to 19. She started playing darts last year and has been excelling in the sport.
“My teacher introduced me to darts. It started as something to keep me busy because my transport used to arrive late. However, I began developing a passion for it,” said Ndlovu.
Ndlovu mentioned that her community in Tsakani is not familiar with the sport, yet they have been supporting her.
“I would like to introduce the sport to the community and and at least obtain some equipment because I have to travel to Brakpan to practice with others.
“I started playing tournaments on June 16, 2024, and that is when I saw that there might be a future in this sport. To me, darts is not just a game; it is my passion and has shaped my mindset and drive,” she explained.
“Once I started enjoying it, I pushed myself harder and raised my standards. That dedication paid off when I became the last girl standing at the prestigious Currie Cup 2024.”
Ndlovu received thrilling news that she qualified for trials to participate in the 2025 South African National Youth, Seniors and Masters Darts Championships.
She started practising more and developed a positive mindset, saying she used to leave school around 16:30 every day because of practice.
“I qualified after four days of trials. I had the highest score among all the players. The points were calculated according to each player’s wins. I was surprised and joyful because they said I was making history.
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“It was my first time playing trials, and I did not have any expectations. I was aiming for third place; however, I came first,” she added.
She highlighted that the last day of trials was very stressful, as everyone was applying pressure because they all wanted to secure their spot in the championships.
She emphasised she has faced numerous challenges, but the sport of darts changed her life.
“It taught me to put myself first. My darts career taught me not to underestimate others, to challenge myself rather than my opponent.”
“I feel both overwhelmed and excited at the same time. This moment means a lot to me because I have put my township on the map.
“I now represent more than just myself, and I am committed to carrying that responsibility with pride, dedication, and integrity,” she said.
She looks forward to making her family and friends proud, and also hopes to make new friends while participating in the championships. Ndlovu wants to work hard to become part of the national darts team and earn all the necessary accolades to qualify for next year’s World Cup.
“My biggest inspiration is Luke Littler, a British professional darts player achieved great success in darts at a young age. He is considered the world’s best young player at the moment,” said Ndlovu.
She thanked her school teachers, friends and family for supporting her throughout her competitions.
“The community is not interested in this game because it is not yet recognised. I am grateful to the few community members who support me even though they don’t fully understand the sport,” she concluded.
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