The senior women’s national netball team, the Spar Proteas, will regroup this week for a monthlong training camp in Stellenbosch in the Western Cape as they step up preparations ahead of the Netball World Cup.
The players were given time off to reflect and to recharge their batteries after taking part in the Netball Quad Series at the International Convention Centre in Cape Town last month.
They started the series with a 41-61 loss to New Zealand, were crushed 64-48 by Australia and drew with England, who later beat them 49-42 in a play-off match for fourth place.
Hosting the quad series gave coach Norma Plummer an idea of the Proteas’ state of readiness, as well as some space to figure out which areas need improvement. Said Blanche de la Guerre, CEO of the Netball World Cup local organising committee (LOC):
De la Guerre, who is also the CEO of Netball SA (NSA), said this last Friday when the LOC briefed the parliamentary portfolio committee on sports, arts and culture on the state of readiness for the World Cup.
“I can confidently say that the team is doing well and it’s all good. There is a lovely atmosphere in the camp and the players really get along so well.
Before the series, the Proteas had a poor showing at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham in the UK in August. They finished in sixth position.
This prompted NSA to replace coach Dorette Badenhorst with the veteran Australian mentor.
Interestingly, Badenhorst had taken over from Plummer, who returned as South Africa’s head coach in November, having previously held the position from 2016 to 2019.
In Plummer’s first match back in charge, the Proteas redeemed themselves by winning the Spar Diamond Challenge in Pretoria, beating 10th-ranked Scotland 54-36 in the final.
De la Guerre assured Parliament that a lot of ground has been covered so far.
“The players’ conditioning is excellent. They are being taken care of at the Stellenbosch Academy of Sport, and the reports are very positive and accommodate each player’s needs.”
She added that, after the Quad Series, eight Proteas players who are not contracted to overseas clubs were sent abroad to train.
Meanwhile, the fans and the media will get an opportunity to mingle with the Proteas at the official launch of the World Cup kit in Stellenbosch on Wednesday.
The 16-nation tournament runs from July 28 to August 6 at the Cape Town International Convention Centre.
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