Dina Kladis is a coach of the women’s team at the TuksVolleyball. In 2017, she guided UP-Tuks to win the 2017 Varsity Beach Volleyball title.

She currently serves as the head coach South Africa girls’ indoor volleyball national team at the 2021 AUSC Region 5 Games that will be held from 3 to 12 December in Maseru, Lesotho.

A few months ago, Kladis was appointed as a Coaches Commission member of Volleyball South Africa.

Here, she tells us more about her love for the sport, coaching career highlights and words of encouragement to the next generation of volleyball players in South Africa.
 
1. Tell us about yourself, who is Dina Kladis?
Besides my love for teaching mathematics and coaching volleyball, I am unashamedly proud to be a Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, and yes, Game of Thrones enthusiast! My love for reading and movies was inspired by my father from a young age.

2. How did you become involved with TuksVolleyball at TuksSport?
It was a challenge by our then Captain Margrit (née Springer) that if I was to win the U19 Inter-Provincial Tournament in Polokwane in 2013, then it was a sign that I had to be coaching at TuksVolleyball and the rest is history.

3. You once said, “I’ll also never hesitate to pick the brain of any person involved in the sport”, why do you say so?
People are walking libraries, with a wealth of experience and hands-on knowledge, something books cannot offer you.

4. Why do you love beach volleyball?
I feel like I am on holiday whenever I am in a beach court. There is something so pure and honest about playing beach volleyball. You have to be true all the time.

5. You are a Coaches Commission member of Volleyball South Africa, what are the duties and responsibilities of this role?
I need to inspire, motivate and grow other coaches with loads of enthusiasm and the hope that we will make volleyball stronger in this country. I will be hosting and running coaching workshops, both theoretical and practical. I need to develop coaches so that they are confident enough to take on FIVB Level 1 and progress to Level 2.

6. What have been your key coaching highlights with TuksVolleyball so far?
We have worked hard to build a positive reputation within our club and it has paid off. It all includes winning the 2017 Varsity Beach Volleyball tournament with Vita Nel, Margrit Springer, Jaime-Lee Wentzel, Khutso Letsoalo, being the assistant coach at the U20 BRICS Games in 2018 and qualifying for the 2022 Zone 6 Games in Mozambique.

7. You will serve as the head coach of the South Africa girls’ indoor volleyball national team at the 2021 Region V Games in Lesotho. What do this appointment and achievement mean to you?
It is a lifelong achievement. I have always wanted to be a head coach and the role has brought on more motivation to grow and develop young players within the sport.

8. How do you keep your TuksVolleyball club members motivated during these challenging times of the pandemic whereby game time is limited?
By reminding myself that people play for the love of the game; to be with their friends, and yes, for fun! I keep sessions interesting, changing, and remind myself that we all need to laugh!

9. What are your words of encouragement to the next generation of volleyball players in South Africa?
We owe it to ourselves to be great! It is up to us to place the sport we love on the global map. No one else will do it for us.