The UJ netball squad have a difficult time ahead of them as they will face reigning champions NWU-Pukke and Kovsies for the opening round of matches in the 2017 Varsity Netball season.
The Auckland Park side had an interesting spell last year as they struggled to find their rhythm, losing their first two games before they were able to come back and register their first win. However, an inconsistent performance from the girls resulted in a further drop in points, eventually ending the term in sixth place.
UJ head coach Leigh-Ann Zackey-Smal refletcs on the previous season, stating that she was disappointed with the position they finished in.
“I don’t think any coach would be happy with a sixth position. The way we played Varsity Netball last year, the girls started off very badly, but they really ended off well. We’ve really been building up from that and the girls also realise that they are capable of playing against other universities and taking them on. So we’re really working on the positives and we are ready to step into Varsity Netball to move up”
Zackey-Smal said the new squad can expect a high intensity that will test them not only individually, but as a team as well.
“Well obviously they’re all going to come in, in each and every match. I don’t know of a university team that will take any match lightly so the UJ girls do know that each and every match will be a battle that they are going to have to fight for. There are no teams that you can take lightly, as each team we take on will fight right up to the end.”
The retired netball player shares her objectives for the season.
“We do have goals and we would like to finish in the top four for a semi-final and then take it from there to end in the top three.”
Zackey-Smal further gives her expectations for their games against NWU and Kovsies.
“Well we are playing Puk and Kovsies this weekend, which are two of the strongest universities, so we are just going to take it quarter for quarter and stick to our game plan and hopefully it will go well.”
Zackey-Smal said going up against strong teams in the first round is a great character building technique for her troops.
“We also played a tournament a while ago and I really think that mentally it proved to the girls that they are capable of doing great things on the court. I also think a part of them are scared to go up against strong teams like Pukke, Kovsies and TUT, but I do believe that my girls have a positive build that they can do it and they can play against universities like them.”
UJ face NWU-Puk on Sunday afternoon at 15h00. Followed by their next fixture against Kovsies on Monday night live on SuperSport 10 at 19h00.
UJ Team: Tanya Liecterkost, Erin van Wyk, Kim-roche Holmes, Courtenay Davis, Angelique Molefe, Prescious (Nhlamulo) Mhlari, Keabetswe Sihlangu, Halala Nxumalo, Ntokozo Ramaremisa, Jodie Brown, Kamohelo Masilo, Nompumelelo Mbonambi
By Liziwe Mbha
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