The recently wrapped Telkom Netball League offered the Spar Proteas coaches and other national selectors an opportunity to observe and examine the players ahead of the Vitality Netball World Cup.
The senior national team was last together in May for a two-week training camp at the Stellenbosch Academy of Sport to prepare for the global competition.
The team has had a string of training camps starting in December before the Quad Series, local based players even travelled to Melbourne, Australia, for another training camp where they played against several teams.
The World Cup, which features 16 participating countries, will take place at the Cape Town International Convention Centre from 28 July to 6 August.
South Africa is the first African country to host the competition. The fifth-ranked Proteas will face Commonwealth Games silver medallists Jamaica, ninth-ranked Wales, and Sri Lanka in Group C.
Assistant Proteas coach, Dumisani Chauke says there are some things the team will need to work and improve on when they go to camp just before the competition begins.
“The players who are in the squad, I would have expected them to dominate and stand out but we understand that they are spread out and not playing as a unit. However, individually, some of them really did have some brilliant moments we can take and build on moving forward. Some of them, there are still certain things to work on. It was good to see them playing with different players and watching them playing under pressure and adapting to different combinations. So now we will know going into camp what to exactly work on,” says Chauke.
'THE FUTURE IS BRIGHT'
The TNL which ran over three months, concluded in a 10-day power week, and also gave the players a very much needed court time, Chauke says this came in handy.
“For us, it’s the build up to the World Cup. In two weeks we will be gathering in Cape Town for our camp, it’s important that our players get game time because you can train in the gym, you can do individual sessions but playing in a team and performing against an opponent that you maybe are not too familiar with shows or exposes your skill level as an individual as compared to a performance of a team as the Proteas. It gave us a good opportunity to have a look at players as individuals and make sure they are game ready. Some are ready, some are not so ready. The ones that are not ready, will get ready, the ones that are ready , we’ll just emphasis on the positives,” she says.
The TNL also saw a rise in players who may in the next coming years feature in the senior national team. The former Limpopo Baobabs coach reckons the future of netball in the country is bright.
“I am excited to see these youngsters coming through. You have got players that are standing up and putting on pressure on our Proteas which is a good thing, it means the future of South Africa is growing. It means we have a large pool of players that are hungry and sticking up their hands for selection into the various squads whether it’s the Under-19, Under-20, Under-21, Under-23, or even the seniors. It is just so exciting to see how our current Proteas are inspiring those coming after them to be better as well. Even though some players are retiring and leaving the sport we do have youngsters coming through. I was quite impressed by the young centre from (Free State) Crinums, Karla (Victor). You can already see the talent, the worth ethic, and the positive attitude she has on the court. She gets the job done, it’s exciting to see players like that coming through the system as well,” she says.
Netball South Africa president, Cecelia Molokwane is pleased with the final 12 that will represent the country at the World Cup. The team will meet again on the 14 July in Cape Town for the final training camp.
She reckons the federation has helped the team with all the preparations it needs for the global tournament.
“As a federation, we have given Coach Norma (Plummer) and the management team all the support they needed in preparing the best team for the World Cup. This will be for the first time in sixty years that a Netball World Cup is hosted on African soil, therefore our expectation for podium finish as hosts is a fair one. We can’t host and become spectators in our own backyard. We are pleased with the selected players, and we know for sure that they will do well. We have full confidence in that and what they can deliver for us,” says Molokwane.
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— SuperSport ?? (@SuperSportTV) July 4, 2023
The final 12 #SPARProteas players who will represent South Africa at the Vitality #NWC2023 Cape Town has been announced ????
2023 Vitality Netball World Cup squad
Bongiwe Msomi (captain); Karla Pretorius (vice-captain ); Khanyisa Chawane; Izette Griesel; Phumza Maweni; Lenize Potgieter; Nicola Smith; Jeante Strydom; Nichole Taljaard; Elmere van der Berg; Shadine van der Merwe, Ine-Mari Venter
Reserves: Owethu Ngubane; Refiloe Nketsa and Lefebre Radema