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Bittler: Breaking barriers in netball

Bittler: Breaking barriers in netball

For years, netball has been viewed as a predominantly female sport, but Dimitri Bittler is challenging that notion.

As the head coach of Afrocat Netball Club, he has not only stepped into a sport traditionally dominated by women but has also led his team – including his wife, Selma Bittler, and daughter – to remarkable success.

Bittler’s journey into netball began as a family-driven decision.

“My wife insisted that we establish a netball team under Afrocat, and to make that happen, we needed a coach. With my background as a rugby player and experience coaching other sports, stepping into the role felt like a natural transition,” he said.

Despite lacking prior experience in netball, Bittler approached the role with determination, focusing on discipline, teamwork and ambition. His coaching philosophy was simple: build a structured, competitive, and family-oriented team.

Like any coach, he has faced his share of hurdles. Retaining players, securing facilities and acquiring funding have been ongoing struggles. However, he credits the club’s strong family culture for helping them push through tough times.

“When we step onto the court, I’m the coach, and the players are just that – players. But outside of the game, we are a family, and that support system makes us stronger on and off the court,” he said.

Under his leadership, Afrocat has risen through the ranks of Namibian netball. The club has never finished outside the top three in a major competition across the country, but their achievements include promotion to the Khomas Premier League, winning the Khomas League, and later advancing to the MTC Namibia Netball Premier League (MTC NNPL).

The club also made history by winning the MTC NNPL Fast 5 tournament. Beyond netball, Afrocat has expanded into other sports, now boasting 12 netball teams, eight volleyball teams, and three soccer teams – this shows the rapid growth over the last decade.

One of Bittler’s biggest missions is advocating for increased male participation in netball. He believes that having more men involved, whether as players or coaches, will help break the long-standing “stigma” that men do not play netball.

“The involvement of men is crucial for striking a gender balance in netball. However, one of the biggest challenges is gaining acceptance from our female counterparts. We need to work together to develop the sport in Namibia,” he stressed.

As Afrocat continues to grow, Bittler remains committed to pushing boundaries.

“Afrocat has come a long way, and I am incredibly proud of what we’ve built. We’ve created a strong, supportive community, and we’re excited to continue growing the sport,” he added.