Although Kovsies have a very good record against the University of Johannesburg (UJ), their encounter on Monday could be a tricky one and a possible banana skin.
With an ever-improving Maties waiting in Stellenbosch on Thursday, Kovsies can hardly afford to slip in Pretoria. They will be without two of their most experienced and influential players. Captain Tanya Mostert and Alicia Puren have been invited to a training camp where trails will be held for the selection of a Proteas team and a South African A team to play in the Diamond Challenge from 2 to 5 October in Durban.
This will make the two-time champions ever more vulnerable as seven of the 12 team members are first-year students and three others second years who are still regarded as inexperienced.
Although national duties should get preference, Kovsies would have considered withdrawing the two for the camp as some other universities have opted to do. Replacing them are the newcomers Deidre Fourie and Nonhlanhla Sikhakhane.
Khomotso Mamburu takes over the captaincy. Gertriana Retief, the FNB Player of the Match in Monday’s victory over the Madibaz, said they are such a tight unit that the absence of Puren and Mostert should not have too much of a negative impact on the team.
“I think Khomotso and Rieze (Straeuli, vice-captain) will do a great job as leaders. We don’t think about a player as a first or third year, we are all level and one team,” Retief, a goal shooter, said.
She is only a second-year education student and will suddenly be one of the most experienced players in the team. “We had a good training week and did put in the hours on the training court. We will be going into the game with a positive mind-set, knowing that we did our preparation.”
Retief said she set herself a goal of achieving a 80% goal average throughout the match.
Kovsies have a good record against UJ having last tasted defeat in 2012.
Kovsies team: Gertriana Retief, Rieze Straeuli, Danelle Lochner, Lefébre Rademan, Khanyisa Chawane, Mariska Pieters, Khomotso Mamburu (k), Rykie Venter, Frances Hurling, Chantene Borlinghaus, Deidre Fourie, Nonhlanhla Sikhakhane.
Previous meetings between Kovsies and UJ in Varsity Netball:
2015: Kovsies 69 – UJ 37
2014: Kovsies 79 – UJ 36
2013: Kovsies 71 – UJ 36
Last five meetings between Kovsies and UJ (all competitions):
2016: Kovsies 64 – UJ 38
2015: Kovsies 69 – UJ 37, Kovsies 80 – UJ 40
2014: Kovsies 79 – UJ 36, Kovsies 56 – UJ 52
2013: Kovsies 71 – UJ 36, Kovsies 69 – UJ 49
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