Bongiwe Msomi will lead SPAR Proteas in the Netball World Cup

The players who will represent South Africa at the Netball World Cup have been named, with just over 60 days till the competition. Norma Plummer, the SPAR Proteas’ head coach, announced this during a press conference last week in Johannesburg. Plummer has selected a mixture of young and seasoned players to compete in the Netball World Cup, which will be held in Cape Town at the end of July this year and is anticipated to be highly challenging because her team will be playing at home. After the camp where the players trained, Plummer said she discovered players who can help South Africa when it competes against the top netball-playing countries in the world.

“I think we’ve been able to work with the players we’ve had since May 7,” said Plummer, who is coaching the SPAR Proteas to the Netball World Cup for a second time. She has chosen the players she believes can help South Africa win its first Netball World Cup, captained by Bongiwe Msomi.

“As the Netball World Cup draws near, we assembled the players to help them hone their skills. After all of the training games we have played, we are confident that the players we have selected are the ones who will do the job we want,” stated the coach of the SPAR Proteas, who are headed to the Netball World Cup with high expectations from South African netball fans.

Up to the conclusion of the Telkom Netball League season, players are expected to remain with their teams. The players for the national team will then return to the camp, which will start on July 1 in Stellenbosch. South Africa will host the Netball World Cup for the first time in 60 years. Cecilia Molokwane, the president of Netball South Africa, promises to help the team in its pursuit of the trophy.

“We have provided full support to the coaches prior to the tournament’s debut on the African continent for the first time. We don’t want to hold a tournament just to sit back and watch other countries compete. We want South Africa and other Africans to conclude the tournament. We explained the significance of the Netball World Cup to the players. We are confident that her team will succeed,” added Molokwane.

THE NATIONAL SQUAD SELECTED

SPAR Proteas: Bongiwe Msomi (Captain); Karla Pretorius (Vice Captain); Khanyisa Chawane; Izette Griesel; Owethu Ngubane; Refiloe Nketsa; Phumza Maweni; Lenize Potgieter; Lefebre Rademan; Nicola Smith; Jeante Strydom; Nichole Taljaard; Elmere van der Berg; Shadine van der Merwe, Ine-Mari Venter.