Although it is a dream for most athletes to pursue a professional career overseas, Tshina Mdau desires to see the country have more competitive players and teams. The agile and petite midcourt player reckons the 2023 Netball World Cup hosts can build a netball home that will see local players become the best in the world while attracting players from outside the borders to want to play their netball in South Africa.
Over the last few years, there has been an increase of South African players moving abroad to play either in the UK's Vitality Super League or Australia's Suncorp Super Netball where the sport is played in a more professional setup with longer-running seasons and salaries.
“I definitely don’t see myself as part of that group, I am proudly South African and I think there is a lot of work that still has to be done before I move overseas, anywhere. I think we have a good thing going on here at home and we just need enough players to believe in the goal, to show that we can also stand on our own as South Africans before we go somewhere else. But I understand that we all have different needs and at this current time, going overseas, obviously allows you to grow so much faster as a player but it doesn’t help when you are the only one growing and the rest of your country is staying behind,” says Mdau.
Netball South Africa’s move to contract players is a promising sign that in the near future, the country will see the sport becoming professional. Countries such as England, New Zealand, and Australia have had a professional league for years and are the leading countries in the world, thanks to regular high-intensity netball. The Gauteng Jaguars star believes that a professional league will present South Africa, which is ranked fifth in the world, with the opportunity to become world beaters.
“Having a professional league would be a game-changer because it will allow so many women to choose netball as a career. We have so much talent and depth in our country and just allowing plus or minus 100 females an opportunity to have that as a professional sport would be the most beautiful job creation one can do while following your passion. But right now I think they’re definitely on the right track with the right sponsors on board, Spar and Telkom. I mean where we are headed, it gives me goosebumps. Yes, I might not experience it and reap the rewards from it but me laying the foundation, walking the path for the next generation to make sure they reap the rewards and make this a career and not have to have a dual life is just breathtaking,” she says.
Mdau has had an impressive career in netball from her university team to club netball in the Telkom Netball League. However, it took her a bit longer than expected to earn her first Spar Proteas cap. Her first call-up to the national team was in 2014 as a non-travelling player but the 2016 Fast5 World Series was the tournament that saw her represent the country for the first time.
And finally, the Spar Challenge held at the Sun City Superbowl saw her don the green and gold for the senior team where she displayed a stellar performance and earned the player of the match on her debut.
“The first time I got on court for the Fast5 it was exhilarating. It was so exciting. It’s a fast-paced sport and way more fun than traditional sevens. As much as it is very short and impactful, it takes so much out of you as a player for that six minutes to fulfill your duty on the court. I remember I was in Australia and my teammate was Lauren-Lee Christian, it was that old gees back then. It was such a phenomenal experience being a youngster learning from my seniors and growing into the sport,” she remembers.
“I remember my first cap was against Malawi, it was just as exciting. I think being able to represent your country is a surreal moment. I think at the end of the day netball is netball, it doesn’t matter if it’s under-6 or in the national team, we are all doing the same thing just at different skill levels but the basics always stay the same. I think if I could remember my first match, I had the exact same feeling,” she adds.
As the World Cup is now a few months away, Mdau hopes to be in that final 12-woman squad that will take to the court in Cape Town. However she understands that this goal of winning the competition not only relies on the players on the court but also those who are part of the team during preparations.
“My hopes for the World Cup are for us, as a nation, to stand on the podium. It doesn’t matter what colour it is, just at the end of the day being in the top three. Showing that we are not permanently No 4 or No 5, that we are part of the top nations in netball in the world for a reason. For it coming to Africa, I think it will be a great platform and place to solidify that and show the world that Africa is not just the lost continent in the world but we are rich, not only in minerals or agriculturally but as individuals, the talents we have. My wish and dream for the World Cup is to be part of that team and if not, just do my part in making sure that my team represent us well. Push them and make sure they are well prepared to take on that journey and keep it home,” she says.