Spar Proteas goalkeeper Phumza Maweni is overjoyed that she will play her last Netball World Cup in front of her home crowd.
Maweni has been part of the senior national team since she made her debut when she was 29 years old under former Proteas coach Elize Kotze and playing in the province that moulded her netball career will be the highlight of her career.
The experienced defender will likely be in coach Norma Plummer’s 12-woman squad that will welcome the world for the global competition which is set for 28 July to 6 August at the Cape Town International Convention Centre.
The fifth-ranked side will face off against world No 4 Jamaica, Wales, and Sri Lanka in Pool C. Maweni says she’s looking forward to the excitement of playing in front of people she grew up with.
“It’s something I cannot describe because I never thought I would reach where I am now and play for this long. Or even to play at home, in front of my (own) crowd, in front of my family. Just being part of this, I just can’t believe I am really on this journey and part of this legacy.
"It’s huge for me and that is why I started my foundation because I know it’s going to bring a lot of (hope to) youngsters from disadvantaged villages. It means a lot to me to be part of this and to help the youngsters to develop and help them to get the feel of how it is being part of the World Cup in Africa,” said Maweni.
“We have a lot of work to do and we are still in the process. But I think, as a group, we are going in the right direction. We have the same goals, we have the same hope of getting into the top four (again). This is a special one (World Cup), I am home and it’s the third one. It’s going to be the best one,” she added.
Although the lanky defender played netball in primary school, she stopped once she got to high school because of the bullying she faced.
She only picked up the sport again, socially, later in her life. Her Khayelitsha, Cape Town-based Maweni Foundation was established to unearth future starts.
“My foundation basically upskills youngsters. We try to take them off the streets, which is kind of (some) protection. We try to keep them busy especially on weekends, just to keep them mentally and physically healthy.
"We work with parents, in terms of life skills. I grew up in a location (township) and I know it’s hard. They (youngsters) don’t know the pathway to go to become a Spar Protea, I don’t want them to face the same challenges I faced. That’s my vision and mission, to protect them and make sure they get a better life through sport,” she explained.
Despite the fact that the 2023 World Cup will be her last, she doesn’t see herself hanging up her takkies as yet. Maweni says she hopes to inspire the next generation to follow and work hard on their passions. She rejected several contracts from overseas teams this season to play her last years on home soil.
“I’m on the track of stopping (playing) netball. I am still enjoying myself. I’m not really out saying: ‘I am stopping,’ but for me, I feel I am still enjoying being part of these girls.
"I am still enjoying the journey of being part of netball. It’s complicated to just say, ‘yes, I will stop’ and then the next thing you see me on the court after the World Cup. It’s really not something I can discuss right now,” she said.
Playing overseas in professional, competitive leagues saw Maweni improve to being one of the most highly rated defenders in the world but she has now closed that chapter.
She was on the books of Seven Stars, Team Bath and Sunshine Coast Lightening in the Netball Super League and the Suncorp Super Netball respectively.
“I don’t see myself there (anymore). I didn’t take the contracts this year. I got a lot of offers but I didn’t take them because I know what I want to do. I think, for me, to finish home is what I want to do. Not to go back but to give back what I learnt and then stop (playing) netball, then that would be something I contribute. That is why I didn’t go overseas this year. I will only go to visit now, friends are waiting to see me. It’s going to be fun just to go and enjoy while I am still getting these opportunities to see my friends.
Netball South Africa have taken the first step in trying to have the sport professionalised by offering contracts to 24 of the players, however, some of the players still have jobs outside of the sport even though they are still playing at a high level. Some are still pursuing their studies. Maweni says this is a step in the right direction.
“It’s still open for everyone that is still trying to juggle both. I know that some of the players have permanent jobs and you cannot just rely on netball (for a living) because there is life after netball.
"Yes, I think it’s good to be open about having a job and there’s no way to cut that out but they (NSA) are very supportive to help you keep your job while continuing with netball,” she said.