Tuks netball team aim to surprise during USSA

Experience wins games, or so it is said, but guts and determination might trump it.

Tuks's netball team will aim to prove that from today when they compete at the USSA Tournament at Camp Discovery outside Pretoria.

Tuks's head coach, Jenny van Dyk, does not like using the words "rebuilding phase" when talking about the team she coaches. She follows a simple philosophy. You are either good enough or not. If you are not, what will you do to be better?

But she can't help to admit that the Tuks team that plays Maties and Kovsies on the same day in their first two USSA encounters lacks experience. Only Alice Kennon and Jamie van Wyk played in the Telkom League.

"In comparison, Maties' players formed the core of the Stings team. The same goes for Kovsies and the Crinums," Van Dyk explained.

"But we are not fazed about this. Our goal is to make sure we qualify to play in the semifinals. To do so, everyone will have to step up, meaning it is going to be all about guts . . . never giving up. I think the 'girls' will do so."

Jamie van Wyk is captaining Tuks. Her younger sister, Kylie, is making her USSA debut. She can't wait to defend Tuks's honour.

"I have two role models, my sister Jamie and the former Tuks captain Marlize De Bruin. They are phenomenal netball players who work hard. When they take to the court, it is guaranteed that they will give '200%'. It is something I am trying to emulate."

When Kylie van Wyk is asked what she enjoys about playing centre, she answered, "every time I feed the perfect ball into the ideal space for my shooters is special. As is getting crucial intercept.

"My passion for netball started when I was a young girl. From the start, I loved everything that netball had to offer. The game itself, the thrills of winning, taking any losses as an opportunity to grow, practising and working hard to continuously improve.

"Playing netball has given me a sense of purpose. I am determined to work hard daily, learn more about the game, work hard towards my goals, and gain a strong mindset with resilience."

The Tuks USSA team is Alice Kennon, Imke Visser, Marichelle Visagie, Blessing Sithole, Wilmi van Heerden, Kylie van Wyk, Phophi Nematangari, Mbalenhle Ntuli, Hope Sibiya, Jamie van Wyk, Anja van Heerden and Sinethemba Maseko.