WeeklySA_AdminALL SET: South Africa have been grouped with Jamaica, Wales and Sri Lanka for the first round of matches
By Sports Reporter
South African netball captain Bongi Msomi admits that if someone had told her 16-year-old self she would compete at four editions of the Netball World Cup, she would have laughed at them.
Stepping onto a netball court for the first time as a teenager, the now 35-year-old could also never have envisioned that she would one day lead her side to a first ever Netball World Cup on home soil.
With the event now just a matter of weeks away, Msomi met up with her SPAR Proteas teammates in Cape Town this week as they put the finishing touches to their preparations ahead of the tournament. Many have played against each other for their respective teams in South Africa’s Telkom Netball League (TNL) but will now join forces ahead of the event which takes place at the Cape Town International Convention Centre from 28 July to 6 August.
“TNL has been really good for us, I think. One has to be match fit and have some competition before heading to the final preps for the World Cup and that’s what we were getting,” explained Msomi.
“It will be great to again have everyone together to fully prepare and to see where we’re at as a group. It is massive that the World Cup is coming to our home soil and to be part of it is pretty exciting.
“I think we are ready to take on this challenge, and in saying this, the excitement for now is just about meeting the group and taking it one step at a time in our preparations.” Having taken over as captain for the first time in 2016, Msomi believes she has grown in the role, especially since the last Netball World Cup in 2019, where the SPAR Proteas finished in fourth place.
“I’ve learnt to understand that I never have to do it all alone, or even have to feel like I’m alone or have to do all the work,” she said.
“I lead a beautiful team that is led by one of the best coaches in the world of netball. That alone comes with a lot of clarity and learning, which helps me so much – to be selfless and brave but also to understand my capabilities, be confident in myself and the people I lead with.”
With over 150 caps for her country, Msomi’s experience is key. “I bring a sense of calmness in my approach, maturity, experience, respect and undeniable passion for what I do,” she explained of her role in the team.
South Africa have been grouped with Jamaica, Wales and Sri Lanka for the first round of matches. They take on the Welsh Feathers on 28 July, followed by Sri Lanka on 29 July, with the all-important clash against Jamaica’s Sunshine Girls taking place a day later.
“It’s a pretty tough pool we’re in. Wales are a great side, our last Test series against them was tough, although we won all three of our games,” Msomi pointed out.
“We all know that Jamaica have been playing solid netball recently, they finished second at the Commonwealth Games.
“We haven’t played Sri Lanka in a long time, but still wouldn’t underestimate any team.
“We seem to be lucky with not having it easy in the group stages which might be good in the sense that it will set the standard early for us, I believe.”
As for the team’s ultimate goal in Cape Town, Msomi has one thing in mind: “A podium finish would be fantastic!”
…ONLY 20 DAYS TO GO
NWC2023: England first team to arrive for first ever Netball World cup on African soil
By Sports Reporter
Excitement levels are rising with several South African players joining the celebratory mood as the Netball World Cup 2023 countdown reached 20 days to go on Saturday.
On July 28, 16 teams from across the globe will launch their quests for glory at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC) where the tournament will be held until 6 August.
Veteran Spar Proteas defender Phumza Maweni said: “It’s so exciting when you see the countdown… this is it, it’s really happening in our country.
“I’m really looking forward to seeing the girls, to get together at camp. Everyone is looking ready and fit and they’ve worked so hard to improve the standard of the game so that makes me even more excited. I can’t wait to go on court and show the world what we have as a team.”
Maweni’s teammate Lenize Potgieter added her excitement. “20 days to go to the Netball World Cup in Cape Town! “I hope you all have your tickets, I hope you’re all ready to support us and just bring the South African and African vibe,” she said. “I think there’s a lot that’s going to be celebrated. I can’t wait for everyone to see the spirit of the African continent.”
Adding to the excitement is the fact that this will be the first time the Netball World Cup will be hosted on African soil. Great tickets are still available across many sessions to catch the teams in action at the CTICC where the tournament kicks off with two preliminary rounds, followed by the playoff matches.
The 16 qualified teams have been grouped into four pools of four. Following a draw conducted late last year, Pool A consists of 11-time champions Australia, as well as Tonga, Zimbabwe and Fiji. A match to look out for in this pool shapes as a rematch between Tonga and Zimbabwe who met in Sydney earlier this year at the PacificAus Series when Tonga took the honours.
Pool B contains England, Malawi, Scotland and Barbados. The tussle between Scotland and Barbados will be a good one to see while Malawi may push England closer than expected.
Pool C sees Jamaica, hosts South Africa, Wales and Sri Lanka vying for all-important points. The key contest of stage one is in Session 11 on Saturday 30 th July when Jamaica will battle South Africa for what will likely be top spot in this pool.
Pool D has defending champions New Zealand, Uganda, Trinidad and Tobago and Singapore. Uganda is a side with tremendous talent and they may surprise, so New Zealand will need to be on their best form in that match-up on Day 2 in session 5. Stage one of the preliminaries is contested in a round-robin format. The top three finishers in each group will progress to play a further 3 matches in stage two. Those teams from Groups A and B make up a new Group F. And the top three teams from Groups C and D form a new Group G.
Teams within Group F or G that have already played each other in stage one, carry the results from those matches through to stage two and don’t face off again.
Meanwhile, the teams that finished 4th in their pool form a new Group E and play a round-robin followed by play-off matches to determine places 13 to 16. Back at the top of the pile, after the second stage matches have concluded, the teams finishing in the top two of Group F and G progress to the semi-finals, followed by the medal matches while those finishing lower down, play off for the minor places.
With so many enticing match-ups on offer, capacity crowds are expected at the CTICC in Cape Town and so fans are being encouraged to snap up tickets while they’re still available.
Sports:
Briefs
BANYANA WRAP UP PREPS IN STYLE
Banyana concluded their preparations for the upcoming FIFA Women’s World Cup with a victory over Costa Rica in an international friendly. Forwards Thembi Kgatlana and Hildah Magaia netted on either side of half-time to lead the South Africans’ triumph over the North Americans.
The outcome was precisely what Banyana would have wanted as they approach their opening match against Sweden on July 23, following the disruptions before their departure for New Zealand.
After an early exit from the group stage in their inaugural global appearance in 2019a, coach Desiree Ellis’ team is eager to showcase their improvement in Australia and New Zealand.
BOKS SKINNED
The All Blacks brought the Springboks crashing back to earth by claiming a decisive Rugby Championship victory late Friday to extend their unbeaten run in Auckland. Going into the match high on confidence after a sensational win over the Wallabies and looking to beat the All Blacks in Auckland for the first time in the professional era, the Boks suffered a 35-20 loss to their rivals at the Mount Smart Stadium.
The result sees New Zealand put themselves in the driving seat to claim a third-straight Rugby Championship title, as they will travel to Australia to face the Wallabies in the final round, while South Africa will be chasing a big win against Argentina at Ellis Park on July 29.
The All Blacks built their win on a sensational opening 20 minutes, during which they dominated the collisions and the kicking game to claim all the momentum, forced the Boks into errors and ruthlessly took their opportunities to open up a 17-point gap.
BAFANA WC QUALIFIERS OPPONENTS REVEALED
Bafana Bafana now know the identity of the teams they will face during the 2026 FIFA World Cup CAF Qualifiers after the draw was conducted in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire, on Thursday (13 July 2023). South African senior national team coach Hugo Broos’ charges were drawn in Group C and they were pitted against Nigeria, Zimbabwe, Benin, Rwanda and Lesotho.
South African Football Association (SAFA) President Dr Danny Jordaan, Vice-President Bennett Bailey and CEO Lydia Monyepao were in attendance as Bafana Bafana’s opponents were unveiled as they are in Abidjan for the 45th CAF Ordinary General Assembly.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be jointly hosted in Canada, Mexico and the United States of America.
COSAFA BAFANA EXIT REGIONAL EVENT
COSAFA Bafana Bafana exit regional event A tightly-contested semi-final at the King Zwelithini stadium in uMlazi saw Zambia defeat the COSAFA Bafana Bafana 2-1 in a tightly-contested affair on Friday (14 July 2023).
Striker Tshegofatso Mabasa opened the scoring for the home side in the 44th minute of a tricky first half, but Chipolopolo had an aggressive play in the early stanza of the second half and were rewarded through a Golden Mashata goal in the 50th minute.
The Zambians were not done as winger Albert Kangwanda’s free kick in the 69th minute stunned Olwethu Mzimela, who deputized in goal for the injured Jethren Barr. “it’s just unfortunate that you can’t control when are you going to concede, especially from a set-piece, and that’s how we ended up losing the match,” said South Africa coach Morena Ramoreboli.
JALI FOR SWALLOWS
Moroka Swallows unveiled Andile Jali as their marquee signing on Friday evening as the veteran midfielder reunited with coach Steve Komphela.
Jali and Komphela are known to share a close relationship and when Komphela joined Swallows speculation was rife on whether the former Kaizer Chiefs mentor would take the former Bafana Bafana star with him to the Soweto giants.
The 33-year-old has signed a two-year deal at Swallows after he spent about five years at Premier Soccer League champions Sundowns.
After weeks of training on his own and at times with friend and former Bafana Bafana teammate Thamsanqa Gabuza – Jali will link up with his new teammates as pre-season is underway.
