Kianté Lightbourne On Passion For Netball
[Written by Stephen Wright]
Kianté Lightbourne cannot imagine her life without netball.
A formidable defensive presence on the court and a dedicated contributor behind the scenes, Lightbourne’s outstanding displays for title-winning team Phoenix Heat earned her the Bermuda Netball Association’s [BNA] Winter League MVP award last season.
At 28 years old, she wears many hats within the netball community.
She serves as the BNA second vice-president, works as an umpire, and is a Phoenix youth team coach, further showcasing her passion for the sport.
“Netball’s a huge part of my life,” Lightbourne told Bernews. “I’ve made it that way.
“My life wouldn’t feel right without netball. Much of my time outside of the house is netball related. I’ve made many connections through the sport.
“When you love something so much, you can’t imagine not doing it. I don’t know if I could survive without it!”
Lightbourne, the daughter of Kyle Lightbourne, a former Bermuda footballer and national team coach, said she was determined to forge her own sporting identity.
“Many people expected me to play football because of my dad,” she said.
“I’ve enjoyed playing a sport where I can create my own identity and show everyone my athletic ability.
“Netball was love at first sight for me. I find it such an interesting sport.”
Born in England while her father played professionally as a striker for Coventry City and Stoke City, Lightbourne’s netball journey began in Bermuda.
She started playing competitively at Bermuda Institute Middle School and was soon introduced to the local netball scene by her aunt, Debbie Saltus.
“I remember the school team being short of players,” the Phoenix captain said. “Everyone knew I was athletic and asked me to come along.
“I loved it immediately and asked my mom if I could play. My auntie, who played in the local league, took me to netball that Saturday.”
At age 12, Lightbourne moved back to England to attend school in Solihull, West Midlands, where her love for netball blossomed further.
She joined Elmdon Netball Club, where she excelled, earning a spot on their youth teams. Within six months, she was invited to county trials and selected to represent the Warwickshire Warriors.
By 16, Lightbourne had caught the attention of England Under-19 scouts and was soon invited to national trials in Sheffield.
“It was an amazing experience,” said Lightbourne, who attended Solihull School’s sixth form on a netball scholarship.
“I had a bit of imposter syndrome and was nervous. I remember thinking, ‘How can I be here!’ Thankfully, another Bermuda player, Ashante Chapman, was also there, and that settled me down a bit.
“It was a scary experience, but I loved every minute!”
While studying at Brunel University of London, Lightbourne continued to shine on the court, competing alongside future top internationals.
“I was exposed to a high level of netball at university,” she recalls. “Some girls I played with now play for countries such as England and Jamaica.”
However, her journey faced a setback in 2017 when she suffered a serious knee injury while playing for the Worcester Reds. It sidelined her for 18 months, just as she had been asked to join the Bermuda national team.
“Even though I couldn’t play, I was still out watching my team every week and helping in any way I could,” said Lightbourne, who won the Under-19 Regional Players’ Player award at the West Midlands Goalden Globes in 2016.
Since returning to Bermuda in 2020, Lightbourne has been a key player for Phoenix in the BNA Senior League, helping the team secure four consecutive titles. Last season, she was named the league’s Defensive Player of the Year.
Despite their undefeated run last season, this year has been more challenging for Phoenix.
“We’ve lost a few matches this season, so we’re not doing as well as we’ve done in the past,” said Lightbourne, who works in accounting.
“We’ve had some injuries and retirements and haven’t always been on the same page.
“We’re still in with a chance to win the league, though. We just need to win all our games!”
- This is the fourth in a series of articles in which Bernews is highlighting the island’s netball players.
Such a good series! Keep them coming