50 Fridays to the biggest netball tournament in South Africa

The completion of the Commonwealth Games signals the shift of focus to the biggest netball tournament on the globe.

Friday, 12 August marks exactly 50 Fridays before the Cape Town International Convention Centre welcomes the world.

The Spar Proteas’ gallant performance at the 2019 Netball World Cup in Liverpool attracted new supporters for the national team which will be hoping to continue where it left off three years ago. The top four finish in the United Kingdom also saw a few more brands grow an interest in putting money in the sport.

The player contracts introduced by Netball South Africa gives the national team more time to focus on perfecting their game and getting better results on the court. Most of all, hosting the first Netball World Cup on the continent opens the door for the world to learn what Africa has and can offer, more than just the players that have been exported to different leagues around the world.

Netball is the widely played women's sport in the country and hosting the biggest competition on the continent for the first time in the 60 years of existence of World Netball should create a vibe throughout the country in anticipation of what is to come. The attendance at this year’s Telkom Netball League showed that South Africa is thirsty for live netball and is ready to fill the Cape Town ICC.

LENIZE POTGIETER- FORMER ADELAIDE THUNDERBIRDS

“I don’t think the other countries know what to expect when they come here, I am so excited. The other countries are going to experience our culture in South Africa which is also so diverse.

The other teams are used to chanting and we have so much more than that. We are used to singing and dancing during games and I mean we are the only ones that have vuvuzelas. I really can’t wait. They are going to be exposed to the vast talent that we have on the continent and not only that we have exported around the world.

This is a chance for Africa as a whole to show the world what we can do, and what we are capable of.

But it will also be amazing to play on home soil with our families and fans watching and supporting us. Having the world in our continent is a sign that netball is a growing sport and this will inspire future generations to take up netball. We want to compete and work towards a podium finish in Cape Town”

ALICIA PUREN- KWAZULU NATAL KINGDOM STARS

“I am very excited, it’s the first time that something like that will happen and just to have everyone come here and have that exposure, that great standard of netball coming to our country, to Cape Town, I can’t wait.

I’m very excited to watch it. It gives the African countries exposure, it will show the countries that will be coming from other continents that we’re here and we can not only participate but compete for the various positions.

I need to reach such a standard to be able to play on that level but a lot of commitment as well is needed. To be able to play on that level would be very exciting, and knowing that it is

still possible for me is still so exciting. I need to go back and work hard because anything can happen, the top 15 can be chosen and an injury can happen and everyone needs to be ready. Not just ready to join but have to be ready to be in the top seven when that call comes.”

SASHA-LEE PETERSEN- FORMER WESTERN CAPE TORNADOS

“Netball is the number one female sport in South Africa, I think it’s massive that it is coming to Cape Town, I love Cape Town obviously I am biased because I’m from there.

It opens more doors for schools, clubs and people to play netball which means it grows even more. More opportunities, more talent gets seen, more tournaments, more netball.

It gets out there and I think that’s the only way it will grow and get better and bigger. It is growing, vastly. I mean there are so many tournaments right now in a year. We just play all the time, which is great.

I honestly think it’s a good opportunity for us to see the young talent coming through which we need to look at because that is important seeing that the Netball World Cup is next year but in a few years’ time there might be new talent coming through. I’m so glad that it’s actually here.

We can finally watch other stars to watch them, to see what they do and learn from them because it’s important we learn from other countries. I am so excited, we’re fully behind the Spar Proteas.”