Former Spar Proteas goalkeeper, Vanes-Mari du Toit believes that hosting the Vitality Netball World Cup will have a lasting legacy as the 1995 IRB World Cup did for rugby in the country.
The Proteas will become the first African side to host the global competition which will be held at the Cape Town International Convention Centre from 28 July to 6 August.
South Africa is one of the 16 teams that will be vying for the coveted trophy which is held by five-time winners, New Zealand.
"The 2023 Netball World Cup is going to do for netball in this country what the 1995 Rugby World Cup did for rugby. I believe that. Whether we win or not, I think the change is here. I think it is already happening, you can already see it. I am getting stopped in the streets with people talking about netball with me where it was never the case (before). I see people who never knew (much) about netball but they are now asking about it and want to know more. It's amazing and for me, it’s about time that people acknowledge the sport that is the most participated women’s sport in the country," says du Toit.
Coach Norma Plummer announced her 15-player squad that will represent the country in the competition and only eight of those players have World Cup experience. In the 2019 edition, the Proteas finished in the top four. Du Toit is not delusional about the hard work and pressure that await the Proteas in delivering a fruitful tournament but is hopeful the team will continue where the team finished in Liverpool.
“I always say it’s a double-edged sword playing in the World Cup and you’re the host. It’s the first time that the World Cup is held on African soil, not only are we carrying the dreams of our nation, South Africa but the rest of Africa. There is a lot of pressure on South Africa to put out a good show and I know South Africa is good at hosting. For me, the Proteas did so well in the 2019 World Cup, almost beating Australia, beating Jamaica and almost getting into the final. If we build on what we’ve learnt in 2019 and grow from that, I think South Africa and the Proteas have everything it takes to be in the final and win a medal.
“Even though there’s more pressure, I think the girls have big match temperament and I think when the pressure is on, that is when they are at their best. I have a lot of hope, I have played with a majority of the girls on the team and I know the capabilities of those players. They step up when things get tough, they are resilient and they have everything it takes to not just get a medal but win the World Cup,” she says.
The Yay! It’s Netball Friday presenter is grateful for where her netball took her. Du Toit has donned the green and gold since the age of 16, representing the country in the Under-17 team before getting promoted to the Under-19, the Baby Proteas, before getting a chance in the senior national team. Throughout her career, she has represented the country in the World Cup, World Netball Series, Quad Series, Diamond Challenge, and the Fast5 Netball World Series.
“My family never had the finances to send me to university, so if it wasn’t for netball there wouldn’t have been an opportunity of receiving a sports bursary, I would have never been able to further my studies. I am so thankful for tertiary institutions like the University of Pretoria where I managed to complete my BCom degree and I was able to have an environment that supported high-performance sports. Netball gave me opportunities to meet so many amazing women in sports but I was also able to travel the world and see how other countries do it,” she says.
Sponsorships will be a critical component in having South Africa finally professionalising netball. In the last few years, a couple of brands including Telkom, Discovery, Hollywoodbets, and Spar have shown some commitment to Netball South Africa. Du Toit says companies need to continue investing in the sport for the greater good of the country.
“I think sponsors can see that their investment into the sport has a ripple effect on women empowerment in the country. It has a ripple effect on young girl development because sports can change lives, it can change the world. So when sponsors come on board, they are not only supporting sport but they are supporting so much more than that. Young girls learn skills through sports that can last a lifetime. I hope sponsors see that it’s not just cash injection to help a sport out but they are contributing to bettering lives for the future of young women in South Africa,” she says.