2023 Netball World Cup will be successful

“The achievements from the previous events that we hosted such as your Fifa World Cup, Rugby Sevens World Cup, and others that we have hosted in the country, these are the ones that have paved the way for some of the sports federations to even be able to bid and be awarded to host such. It shows the kind of capabilities we have as a country. If you manage to pull off an event such as the 2010 Fifa World Cup, it is very clear that we have got the expertise, the kind of leadership in the country and we’ve got the resources that we can put together to make sure we support in making sure that we host the best ever events as South Africa,” says Shikwambana.

The Tokyo Olympics Team South Africa chef de mission stresses the importance of learning from the other federations on how they managed to put out the best possible competition.

“I must indicate that even the kind of support we are getting from the government because most of the events would not happen without the financial backing from the government. One of the things we have done as well as a board was that we had an engagement with Nomfanelo Magwentshu who was the COO of the (2010) World Cup. We asked her to present it to the board so that we have a sense of how they made it. What are the things that we must look at that might break us, what are the things that can build us because they have that experience?

“We have been saying we have got all the knowledge and experience, we have got people that are capable, we can’t just work in silos. We are capable and I think we will be able to pull it through and make our country and the netball family including World Netball by having a great World Cup in South Africa,” she says.

Although there have been several resignations from some of the vital positions, Shikwambana is satisfied that the new appointments will take the project forward. World Netball has also visited the Cape Town International Convention Centre which will host the matches and seem content with the venue for the tournament.

“We had a bit of a lull due to Covid but since our announcement last year by the minister (of sport) the board had to move quickly in terms of putting systems in place like appointing the tournament director and heads of various departments within the organisation. Once we appointed the positions we managed to launch the logo, we also managed to announce the broadcasters. We have already also managed to appoint the LOC which is headed by Priscilla Masisi. Once we managed to fill up the positions of the various heads of departments we also had resignations that we got both from finance and marketing but we have now appointed head of operations and also head of technical,” she says.

The announcement of the official match ball Khanya and mascot Letsatsi the meerkat are some of the milestones that Shikwambana is happy about together with a number of sponsors lined up to join the party.

“We really have managed to meet a number of milestones that World Netball was looking at. There is progress but we know as a board we have gone too much in terms of mobilisation except through the launch of Netball Fridays. We just need to amplify engaging communities and various stakeholders that this event is coming,” she says.

The draw for the tournament will be held on 30 November in East London to determine the two groups of the 16 teams that will take part in the global showpiece next year.

“We identified four pillars of success, the first we identified is we need to host an Africa centric World Cup. The second one is we want to leave netball in a better position, we know what they (Netball South Africa) want after the World Cup, and it’s to find themselves being one of the professional sports in the country. The other one of the success pillars is through this world cup we should have cemented the importance of corporates coming forth and supporting women in sports. We are hoping that sponsors come through and the last part is all about the legacy which is what we are working on that this event becomes an inspiration to the girl child who aspires that tomorrow they might become a Bongiwe Msomi or become a Cecilia Molokwane as a president because not all of us can become players but can become administrators or technical officials,” she says.