11-05-2025
Hoërskool Dinamika netball star rising through the ranks
From the moment she started playing netball in Grade R; Chelsea Axsel knew she had found her passion.
With a strong love for the game and a hardworking spirit, she's been growing her talent ever since.
Now only 16, the talented Hoërskool Dinamika learner is already making a name for herself in South African netball.
Captaining her school team with pride, Chelsea has grown through every tournament, pass and challenge.
Whether she's making game-winning interceptions or encouraging her teammates, her presence is undeniable. Chelsea has worked to rise through the ranks.
As a standout player at Hoërskool Dinamika, she has competed in high profile tournaments like Gauteng Schools Netball, South African Schools Netball, and the Fast 5 national tournament, where her team placed second in the country in 2024.
In their recent tour to Paarl, they won seven out of eight matches against Cape Town's top schools.
Chelsea also captained the invitational squad representing South Africa at the HSBC U19 Youth Cup in Dubai in November 2024, where they finished in the international top four.
This was the moment that solidified her ambition: 'My dream is to represent South Africa as a Protea player, starting with climbing the ranks as a provincial player,' Chelsea shared.
Behind her success is a busy schedule and a team of supportive mentors.
'My days are full,' she said. 'I attend school until 14:00 every day, then I have school netball practice until 16:00. Thursdays are for league matches and Fridays and some Saturdays are served for private coaching or other activities.'
Her private coach, Candice Allen, an former Jaguars player and owner of Pivot Netball Academy is a major influence.
'Candice inspires me. She shares her knowledge, makes me feel seen and believes in me even when I don't. I'm also blessed with a strong school coach, coach Karen Bezuidenhout, who pushes us to always give our best. She works us hard and holds us accountable for our success.'
Candice praised Chelsea's perseverance: 'I've never been more proud of her. She's faced challenges that could have derailed her, like her Achilles tendon injury in grade Eight, but she never gave up. She works hard and grows in every part of her life. She's not only one of my best players but one of the strongest people I know.'
Despite the physical toll of her sport, including that Achilles injury she sustained during the Affies tournament, Chelsea has stayed disciplined and focused on recovery while still excelling on the court.
Off the court, she's just as involved. As the eldest of four siblings, Chelsea is a natural leader at home.
At school, she thrives academically and socially. She's a top 10 academic achiever who loves biology and enjoys physical and hands on subjects.
She also participates in athletics, girls' cricket, public speaking and fashion shows.
Earlier this year, she co-founded Namies FM, the school's radio station, which she now hosts.
Chelsea enjoys baking, watching rugby and netball and listening to music in her spare time.
But most importantly, she's surrounded by unwavering family support.
'As a family, we stand firmly behind Chelsea's dream,' says her mother, Jenna Axsel.
'We know it's not easy, but we're there for her-driving her to matches, helping with schoolwork and cheering her on. Chelsea may be chasing her dream, but she knows she's never doing it alone.'
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