Dorette Badenhorst selects strong squad, filled with new and old faces

The National Selectors and head coach Dorette Badenhorst have selected the SPAR Proteas squad to compete against the Malawi Queens in a three-match series from 26 – 30 November in Rustenburg.

At the recently concluded Telkom Netball League, SPAR Proteas Head Coach Dorette Badenhorst spent time evaluating players she would like to introduce into the national team set up as the country gets preparations underway for the 2023 Netball World Cup.

Before the SPAR Challenge Series against Malawi Queens, Netball South Africa revealed a provisional squad of 30 players invited to training camp and trials. Before the final team of 15 players is confirmed, the provisional squad of 30 players will participate in a three-day training camp beginning on 22 November in Sun City.

The selected provisional squad:

Defence: Phumza Maweni; Karla Pretorius; Nozipho Ntshangase; Nicola Smith; Shadine van der Merwe; Monique Reyneke; Ané Retief; Pamela Chukwu; Fezeka Sondzaba; Bongise Wete

Mid court: Izette Griesel; Bongiwe Msomi; Romé Joubert; Khanyisa Chawane; Marlize de Bruin; Lungile Mthembu; Shannen Bartlett; Tshina Mdau; Sikholiwe Mdletshe; Precious Mthembu

Shooters: Lefébre Rademan; Kamogelo Maseko; Nichole Taljaard; Nomfundo Mngomezulu; Renske Stoltz; Sigi Burger; Nonsikelelo Mazibuko; Elmeré van der Berg; Ine-Marí Venter; Lenize Potgieter

“Selecting a squad to play in November was very difficult because we only use the TNL competition as well as the international competitions. Not all players were available for the TNL competition because of their work responsibilities and for this reason, we will identify players also at the SPAR National champs and add them in the group if necessary. We also had a few injuries during the TNL and we will wait for those players to also return to play.” stated SPAR Proteas Head Coach Dorette Badenhorst.

“During selection, we looked at players who with coaching and good heart performance programme will be able to perform at an international level and compete against the best in the world. Not all players get good coaching or enough opportunity to play in their regions and provinces. Some players will only be good at the national level but struggle at the international level, especially if you look at their build and their heart. For us it’s also important to look at players that are committed in the heart performance programme because they will compete against players in this job or sport that are training every day of the week and we need to prepared for those players,” the Head Coach continued on the challenges of selecting 30 players.

Netball enthusiast Sindisawa Ganda gave her thoughts on the selection and the players she expects to rise to prominence during the camp.

“Included on the list are the 12 existing Proteas squad members. However, Coach DB has also made some rather surprising inclusions to her squad, namely a one Shannon Bartlett who has for the first time received her Proteas camp call up. The fast, agile and sometimes sneaky Stings midcourter has done enough this season to earn a call-up and surpass her teammate Jo Prins, who may have been an obvious choice for many.

After earning Player of the series, Marlize de Bruin makes the list as well and hopefully a breakthrough if she can keep her form and be injury-free. Completing the new faces on the midcourt is a player who has proven herself a versatile player that can play all 3 positions with great intensity and heart, Sikholiwe Mdletshe. Picked as the player of the series at last year’s National Champs, this is her first break into the Senior side and a great prospect for the future,” said Ganda.

“On the other side in the shooting third, again Coach DB has gone with a mix of experience and youth, with TNL 2020 break out star Kamogelo Maseko of the Gauteng Firebirds. Nomfundo Mngomezulu who has been nothing short of accurate this season for the newly introduced KZN Queens joins her fellow KZN netball shooter, Nonsikelelo Mazibuko at the camp. Elmere van der Berg who completes this lineup also forms part of the baby Proteas squad that will compete in Fiji for Netball World Youth Cup in Dec 2021. This will be her chance to gain as much experience as she can leading to NWYC, training with and against world-class defenders in Karla Pretorius and Phumza Maweni.

Speaking of world-class defenders, the defensive wall of Karla Pretorius and Phumza Maweni has been called up and will be joined by a group of new faces to the program, as stand out players such as Simone Rabie and Jeanie Steyn has been ruled out due to injury. With that, it meant new blood of future Proteas will have the chance to be part of the HP programme and giving much-needed depth to Coach DB squad. Young guns such as Nozipho Ntshangase, Pamela Chukwu and Ane Retief who have shown that growth from the junior ranks have been rewarded with this call-up,” continued Ganda

“It’s safe to say Coach DB definitely seems to have a plan leading up to 2023 and that is to get us the depth the Proteas have been lacking for a while. We know that the starting 7 is a world-class machine, however, we have struggled when it came to using our bench and squad. With Coach DB who is big on developing players, we are hopeful that this 30 will serve for a solid start into a well-rounded team,” concluded Ganda.

This is the first time since the 2019 Africa Netball Africa Cup that South Africa won in Cape Town last year that the two nations have battled.