TOP AFRICAN NETBALL TEAMS IN ACTION AT SPAR CHALLENGE
Cape Town, Western Cape Province, South Africa: Three of Africa’s top netball nations – South Africa, Uganda and Namibia – will be fighting it out for top honours in the SPAR Challenge International Tri-Nations series at the Cape Town International Convention Centre from Thursday, 25 March until March 31.
The SPAR Proteas are ranked fifth in the world, the Uganda She Cranes seventh and the Namibian Debmarine Desert Jewels 23rd.
The tournament is very important for all three nations, who will all be seeking to boost their world ranking and gain very important international experience after a year in which the Covid-19 pandemic played havoc with preparations for next year’s Commonwealth Games and the World Cup in Cape Town in 2023.
The SPAR Baby Proteas and the President’s XII will also be taking the court during the tournament.
SPAR Proteas, head coach Dorette Badenhorst said on Wednesday that the absence of some of her key players, who are playing league netball in Australia and the United Kingdom, will provide opportunities for rising stars and give some indication of the depth of talent in South Africa.
“The overseas players have been prevented from coming home because of COVID restrictions, but I am very excited about the young players who have stepped in to take their places,” said Badenhorst.
“The biggest challenge has been in the circle, because the overseas players are mainly shooters and defenders. But it has been exciting to try out new circle combinations and I am very happy with the progress we have made. “The new members of the team are being helped by the experienced squad members and we had an excellent training camp.”
She said the SPAR Tri-nations tournament was an ideal way to grow netball in Africa.
Uganda coach Rashid Mubiru said his team’s preparations had gone well, despite the problems caused by the pandemic. “We are excited to play here, because it is an opportunity for us to earn rankings points. We are also striving to qualify for next year’s Commonwealth Games and the 2023 World Cup and it will be useful to play at the venue for the World Cup,” said Rashid.
Namibian head coach Julene Meyer said her team had to use innovative methods to prepare for the tournament, because of COVID restrictions and the vast distances in Namibia.
“Our immediate goal is to qualify for the pinnacle netball events and we will benefit from playing against two of Africa’s top three teams,” she said.
Meeting the captains Executive Mayor of the City of Cape Town, Dan Plato said, “I’m looking forward to this netball tournament, it’s absolutely vital important for Cape Town and South Africa as a whole that we at least once again during COVID and after the worst of COVID that we can compete, that we can travel a bit, therefore we welcome Namibia, we welcome Uganda and their teams with us. I’m also looking at the bigger picture, with the eyes on the international Netball World Cup. I think that is very important, and in the running up to the World Cup, that we can test our abilities against some of the best teams in Africa.”
The SPAR Proteas play the Nambian Debmarine Desert Jewels in the opening match at 10 am on Thursday and the Uganda She Cranes at 6pm.
There will be no spectators at the matches, which will be televised live on SuperSport Variety 4.
