About Us | DRVN High Performance Academy

At DRVN, we're more than just a netball academy - we're a sisterhood of passionate players, dedicated coaches, and supportive parents united by our love for the sport.

Our Vision

To become the leading netball academy in South Africa, renowned for producing skilled, confident, and empowered young athletes who excel both on and off the court.

Our Mission

Provide elite netball training and development programs for girls aged 7-17
Foster a culture of teamwork, sportsmanship, and mutual respect
Develop the whole player - physically, technically, tactically, and mentally
Create a supportive community that encourages growth, learning, and fun
Produce champion athletes who make a positive impact in their communities

Our Values

Excellence: We strive for the highest standards in all we do
Empowerment: We believe in the potential of every player to achieve greatness
Sisterhood: We're a family that lifts each other up
Integrity: We act with honesty, respect, and sportsmanship
Fun: We enjoy the journey and make unforgettable memories!

Last year we got nominated for the Hollywood Best KZN Youth Business Awards, finishing second out of 1000 companies.

Miss Nobuhle Mbili

CEO – DRVN High Performance Academy

Miss Nobuhle Mbili is a dedicated educator, sports leader and the driving force behind DRVN High Performance Academy. With formal training in Education and Educational Psychology, she combines evidence-based understanding of learning and development with decades of competitive experience.

Nobuhle began her competitive journey as a national majorette at age eight — an early crucible that taught her the value of preparation, discipline and resilience. Those lessons shape her leadership today.

As CEO she is the visible, day-to-day leader: present at practices, approachable to parents, and quick to mediate and guide when challenges arise. Parents and athletes alike turn to her for clarity, reassurance and direction.

On the sideline she brings infectious energy and calm focus; on the court she is both coach and caretaker — holding athletes to high standards while nurturing their confidence, camaraderie and sense of family.

A natural peacemaker, Nobuhle builds strong relationships across the academy and ensures every player understands what it means to be part of the DRVN family: to train hard, to compete with integrity, and to have each other’s backs.

Under her leadership, DRVN doesn’t just develop players — it shapes people.

Mr Thando Mhlathi

Founder & Head Coach – DRVN High Performance Academy

Mr Thando Mhlathi is a highly respected high-performance coach with over 14 years of experience in school sport development and elite athlete preparation. He has played a pivotal role in elevating Physical Education programmes and establishing strong, performance-driven sporting cultures across multiple schools.

Renowned for his commitment to grassroots netball development, Mr Mhlathi has been instrumental in introducing young female athletes to structured Strength & Conditioning, laying the foundation for long-term athletic excellence, injury prevention, and competitive confidence. His methodology blends technical precision, physical development, and mental resilience — preparing athletes not just to compete, but to excel.

Under his leadership, athletes from various sporting codes have progressed to the highest competitive levels, producing South African and KwaZulu-Natal representatives in Netball, Athletics, and Touch Rugby. His results-driven approach and uncompromising standards have positioned DRVN High Performance Academy as a trusted pathway for aspiring elite athletes.

Coaching Philosophy

At DRVN, excellence is a standard — not a goal. Mr Mhlathi believes in cultivating disciplined, confident athletes within a high-performance environment defined by professionalism, positive energy, and purpose. Every athlete is guided to become the strongest, most capable version of themselves — on and off the field.