SPAR Proteas Newcomer: Jessica du Plessis

Mahloko, Nketsa and Van Der Berg (all born in 2001) already represented their country back in 2017 when they were teammates in the South African u16 team that won the Cossasa Games in Lesotho. Mahloko captained the team.

As a first-year student at the North West University in 2016 Du Plessis (now 23) already showed some huge potential.

At both the National u19 and u21 Champs that year playing for the North West the goal attack was named as the Shooter of the Tournament. Later in 2016 she was the captain of the SA u20’s who won the Africa Union Sport Council Region 5 Games in Angola.

She has played for the SA President’s XII (2021), SPAR Baby Proteas (2017), SA u17 (2014), North West Flames (2018-2020), Dr Kenneth Kaunda (2018-2020), North West (2017) and NWU (2016-2021). She will lead the NWU team in Varsity Netball later this month.

🗣 Du Plessis on her selection: “Like any young netballer it was my dream to represent my country. It’s a huge honor and privilege. It is still so surreal. There is no better feeling than sharing the court with a great bunch of woman!

“There are many good role models that inspired me to get to this point, of which my mom (Nita) the most. She’s always there through the highs and lows and always encouraged me to never give up. Many of my NWU teammates such as Romé Joubert and Monique Reyneke also played a major role.”