HEAD COACH: Netball South Africa has finally found the best candidate to lead the team forward and guide them to the 2027 Netball World Cup hosted down under in Australia

By Sports Reporter

The SPAR Proteas have been without a head coach since Norma Plummer stepped down in December 2023, and Netball South Africa had advertised the position before the Australian mentor left this role in 2023.

Following a meticulous process of reviewing applications and conducting rounds of interviews, Netball South Africa has finally found the best candidate to lead the team forward and guide them to the 2027 Netball World Cup hosted down under in Australia.

“This process of appointing a head coach for the SPAR Proteas has not been easy. We wanted to ensure that we do a proper job in selecting the best person for the role. We needed to be thorough in the selection process, from interviews right through to appointment. A suitable candidate for us is an individual who can assist as we rebuild the team and begin to compete. With a few of our senior players retiring, we are starting anew, and we need a coach who will build with us. As a federation, we are confident that we have found the right person to help us do exactly that,”said Netball South Africa President, Cecilia Molokwane.

Coach Jenny has been given a four-year contract and will lead the team to the 2027 Netball World Cup in Australia, among other tournaments and will be assisted by former SPAR Proteas Captain and Maties coach Zanele Mdodana.

“It is a fantastic feeling and quite an honour to be bestowed the responsibility to lead the national team (SPAR Proteas). I have waited so long to don this green blazer. I am also happy to be joined by Zanele, she has something that sets her soul on fire, and I believe that we will be a formidable team. As a coach for the SPAR Proteas, my objective is to continue from where my predecessor left off, we need to build a winning team – to follow a proudly South African culture of netball. We need to get into the culture of winning and having a netball identity. I believe that we are equal to the task and start competing and winning,” said newly appointed SPAR Proteas Head Coach, Jenny van Dyk.

 Van Dyk has been hailed as one of the best local coaches and the most successful coach in the domestic Telkom Netball League – she has won five consecutive titles with the Tshwane based outfit, the Jaguars. She also has led the University of Pretoria netball team to a few finals and titles in the Varsity Cup. Prior to her appointment, she was with the under 21 team who are scheduled to play in the  Netball World Youth Cup 2025 Qualifiers in March.

 Molokwane concluded by saying, “As a federation, we have full confidence in who we have chosen as our head coach, and we are certain that the team will take us to new heights and compete. On behalf of the entire netball family, I would like to wish the entire coaching staff everything of the best.

 The coach’s first assignment is to assemble a group of thirty players and finalize the team that she will begin to work with as soon as possible. Netball South Africa will communicate dates for training camp at the proper time.

TUKS TICK ALL THE BOXES

MOMENTUM: Platinum City Rovers to feel the wrath of marauding Pretoria outfit

By Masoja Cele

In-form University of Pretoria will undertake a short trip on Sunday down to the Vaal to play against the struggling Platinum City Rovers in the Motsepe Foundation Championship. The match will take place at Isak Steyl Stadium, Vanderbijlpark. Kick-off 15hr30.

The Tshwane outfit are topping the standings after winning two of their fixtures after the long break due to the AFCON 2023 in Ivory Coast. AmaTuks toppled long-time leaders Orbit College after clocking 2-1 victories over NB La Masia and Upington City respectively. The 2008 Nedbank Cup finalist also beat DStv Premier side1-0 in the Keyona Cup to qualify for the round 16 of the tourney. It is that time of the season where teams are pushing hard for promotion to the Premier League. At the other end of the table is the battle of the survival.

Tukkies playing personnel and the technical team led by head coach Tlisane Motaung are showing signs of hunger for the DStv Premier League return. The Hartfield team were relegated from the top league back in 2015/16 season under the stewardship of Steve Barker. With Tlisane at the helm AmaTuks have done well in the league. They were so unfortunately during the 2021/22 season when their bold attempt to return to the top league was derailed by the eventual winners of the promotion mini league Moroka Swallows.

Against City Rovers, the Tshwane outfit will have an opportunity to stretch their lead at the top of the log. Rovers are languishing at the bottom of the table with 11 matches to play. However, Tuks should thread carefully against the North West side as relegation threaten sides are dangerous when fighting for their lives. AmaTuks coach Motaung. Players like Thabang Sibanyoni , Promise Mkhuma and Samuel Julies, who all played for Mamelodi Sundowns before could be handful for City Rovers.

Speaking to Weekly SA Mirror this is what coach Motaung had to say. ‘’ This is going to be a difficult match for us. It’s always difficult to play against a team fighting relegation. Actually, I watched City Rovers playing against Moroka Swallows in the Nedbank Cup recently. They were brilliant, they had a fantastic game plan it’s unfortunately that they lost that match’’.

‘’With the team leading the chasing pack we hope to keep the momentum going. Yes, like any team our objective is to clinch the championship and be promoted to the DStv Premier League. I am also happy that we don’t have no serious injuries except for few minor casualties.  Nevertheless we will approach one game at the time’’ concluded Motaung.  City Rovers are struggling to move away from the basement of the log. They last won a fixture in late December against JDR Stars. In February 2024 after the resumption of the league due to AFCON 2023, they managed only a single point from two matches, losing 3-1 to Black Leopards and drew 1all at Baroka FC. The North West based team should brace themselves for hectic 90 minutes against Tukkies. If they nurse any hope of beating their opponents on Sunday then they should increase the tempo of their game. City coach Tlou Sekgolela who donned the colours of Orlando Pirates in his heyday would rest his hope on the shoulders of the experience of Siyabulela Shai, Charles Molapo and Olaleng Shaku to win the match.