Spar Proteas goal attack, Lefébre Rademan thought her dream of playing in a Vitality Netball World Cup on home soil would not be realised after suffering an ACL injury during South Africa’s 54-48 loss to the She Cranes of Uganda at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham. She had just been on the court for five minutes before the injury forced her out of the competition.
Rademan had recommitted to the Celtic Dragons, however, after sustaining the injury she was ruled out of competing in the 2023 Netball SuperLeague season. Following a successful surgery and a rehabilitation process, the 26-year-old is already back on court and working to get into Norma Plummer’s final squad for the global tournament set for 28 July to 6 August in Cape Town.
She has been part of the locally based Spar Proteas players that have undergone a string of training camps with a month-long one in March being the most recent one.
The wing attack says suffering the injury was difficult but she is happy she is back on court.
“When it happened at the Commonwealth Games that evening, I was so sad and upset. I didn’t think I would be ready for the World Cup. I was a bit negative but my roommate then, Tshina (Mdau), and everyone around me was so supportive. My family and everyone were so supportive. It was really tough, the rehab process is lonely but I was never alone. God was with me every step of the way, He provided for me.
“It wasn’t easy, every day was hard work. I was alone there (Stellenbosch Academy of Sport), when the Proteas came to camp, I would see them but I was still on my own programme. It’s a tough journey but it’s possible (to overcome), if you want to make a comeback, it is possible,” says Rademan.
She is confident the Proteas will take home a medal in the World Cup this year.
“We are going to do well at this World Cup, we are aiming for a medal and I believe that it is possible,” she says.
Working with veteran coach, Burta de Kock has moulded into a player that strives to be her best self every time. De Kock, who was recently elected to serve on the new World Netball Coaching Advisory Panel, has a lot of accolades in the sport. She has coached both the Proteas and Baby Spar Proteas and produced several senior national players, such as Karla Pretorius, Khanyisa Chawane, and Refiloe Nketsa. Rademan reckons that the team culture and environment that the TNL winning coach makes everyone want to be the best.
“I think the culture she creates and the team’s unity, you quickly realise that is what makes you want to be part of it or you don’t. It is quite tough but if you stick through that and you make it, then you are set up for success. She is just an unbelievable netball coach, she is strict but she will motivate you. She will believe so much in you and the team, that is really the culture she and the players create. I am just so grateful to be back in Bloemfontein and to be part of the Free State Crinums as well. It is such an amazing team and culture,” she says.
The Crinums are one of the most formidable teams in South Africa and their three back-to-back victories in the national netball league are evidence. However having last played in the final of the TNL in 2019, the Free State side have to pull up their socks if they are to be seen as titans again. The former London Pulse player believes this could be the year they return to the top of the podium.
“I think this year we are a great team with great leadership, great senior players, and definitely great young up and coming players. In the end it’s not about the names because a name will not make you win, it’s about the team coming together and playing for each other. I am really proud of our performance this past weekend, we got three out of three but now the competition has started. Everyone has footage of each other and we need to work even harder, we are just hungry for the win. It’s definitely a process and we can’t think about the gold now but it is about every game and giving your best and growing because every game is really tough,” she says.
Rademan spent two seasons in the United Kingdom before returning home. First with Pulse before she joined the Dragons. She is happy with the growth of netball in the country.
“It’s just amazing, I am so glad to be back with the people I know and Crinums. The Telkom Netball is an amazing league and it’s grown so much. For me, the highlight was that all the games were on TV, it’s usually certain games. How we still don’t have a netball channel, I don’t know but we will get there. It’s great being back and playing in the TNL,” she explains.