Playing in front of her home crowd is one of Nicola Smith’s ultimate goals. Taking to the court at the Cape Town International Convention Centre, in front of childhood friends, family, and most importantly her grandparents is what the 22-year-old aspires to. After making her debut for the Spar Proteas in 2020, Smith is working hard to make the team that will represent South Africa at the 2023 Netball World Cup.
“Not only my home country, my home ground for me as well, but I am also from Cape Town and I can’t wait to have the privilege to play there. There is still a lot of hard work to be put in but that would be something. I can’t wait, it will be such a privilege especially because my granddad and grandma are my biggest supporters, and for them to be able to come and watch it will be amazing. If it was in Pretoria or somewhere else they would not be able to travel because they are a bit old so for them and my whole family to be able to come will be a dream come true,” she says.
“Since I was young I wanted to play for the country in the World Cup, maybe it will be my first one, hopefully. I have always wanted to represent the country, in my home ground and in front of my home crowd. I can’t wait for that. My school (Durbanville High School) was very supportive in my netball career, there are a lot of girls that reach out to me, asking for advice so for them to see an actual live game, watch the level that we are playing, it’s something to look forward to. Maybe they will get inspiration there as well, not only netball inspiration that maybe if they don’t have the talent but if they work hard they can beat the talent that doesn’t work hard,” adds the Western Cape Southern Stings player.
Having secured a move to the Leeds Rhinos Netball may be the seed of inspiration she hopes to give future national team players. Smith was named in the Rhino squad for the 2023 Vitality Netball Super League season. She joins several South Africans such as Zanele Vimbela, Shadine van der Merwe, and Sigrid Burger, who play professional netball in the United Kingdom. She signed a six-month playing contract with the English side and will be heading to Leeds in January for preseason training.
“I would definitely like to play overseas, well after next year. Anywhere, New Zealand, Australia, or England, just to play for a long time. The competition is really strong, so hard work is all I need to put in, the extra time and not just training camps but maybe extra sessions to be better than the level that I currently am. Just to grow. Hard work and just showing them what I am capable of,” she says.
Smith started her netball journey at only age seven, although she plays in the defensive positions now, she played in goal attack in her early days. Her talent saw her being selected for the provincial team when she was 13-year old which became a gateway that led her to be selected for the national Under-19 side and then later the Baby Proteas. Her senior debut with the Spar Proteas was during the three-match series against Malawi in the Spar Netball Challenge in Sun City in November 2020. The Proteas completed a 3-0 whitewash over the Malawi Queens in that tournament.
Although South Africa recorded a 62-29 victory in her debut match, the goalkeeper says she was nervous.
“It was a Covid year so there weren’t any supporters in that game but before the game, we have a moment where they hand you your Protea dress before your first cap, I remember that moment especially. Shadine gave me my dress, that was really special. Bongi(we Msomi) said a few words to me and I remember that, it’s in my memory. I was one of the youngsters in the team, to be 20 years old and get your first cap, it’s an achievement. I couldn’t wait to get on the court and just represent my country and have the privilege to play with Phumza (Maweni) and Bongi and all the old Proteas. I want to play for long and get a lot of caps. I don’t want to put an age when I will end (my netball career), I will end when I feel I want to end. I want to play more years and inspire young girls,” she says.
In the green and gold, the Maties player has won the Africa Netball World Cup qualifiers, was part of the team that whitewashed Wales in a two-match series, and took part in the Commonwealth Games in which South Africa finished sixth, making friendships along the way.
With all the strides that Smith has made in her short senior career, there is surely more that she will bring on court for South Africa. As she waits with bated breath while putting in the work on the court, her dream of making her grandparents proud may come true, should she make the 12-player squad to represent the country in the global competition.