Now in its fifth year, Varsity Netball has become a highlight on the South African netball calendar. Here are just a few of the interesting facts about the competition and what to expect in 2017.
- 28 group matches will be contested between eight universities followed by the semi-finals and final.
- The University of the Western Cape (UWC) will make their debut in the competition. They are replacing fellow Capetonians the University of Cape Town. Two of the UWC players, Jaumbuaije Zauana and Sinesipho Willie represented the Western Cape senior team at the recent National Champs where they were the runners-up.
- Two of the new coaches are former Protea captains. They are Zanele Mdodana (Maties) and Martha Mosoahle-Samm of the Vaal University of Technology (VUT). The third new coach is Janine du Toit of UWC.
- 5 players will be participating in their fifth year of Varsity Netball. They are: Arné Rust (Madibaz), Shadine van der Merwe (UP-Tuks), Kim-roché Holmes (University of Johannesburg), Tanya Mostert (Kovsies) and Zandré Erasmus (NWU-Pukke).
- 126 matches were played in the first four years.
- Only two universities, Kovsies (2013-2014) and Pukke (2015-2016) have won the trophy.
- No team has been able to go through a Varsity Netball campaign unbeaten.
- The Pukke, with three, have reached the most finals.
- Tuks and Pukke are the only teams to have reached the semi-finals every year.
- Tuks (79.41%) has the best winning percentage over the previous four years.
Eleven players have played Varsity Netball before making their Protea debuts. They are (in order of debut for the Proteas, and in brackets their university and the years they played Varsity Netball before becoming a Protea):
Lenize Potgieter (UJ, 2013)
Kifiloe Tsotetsi (Pukke, 2013)
Zanele Vimbela (Madibaz, 2013)
Lauren-Lee Christians (Kovsies, 2013-2014)
Izette Griesel (Tuks, 2013-2014)
Shadine van der Merwe (Tuks, 2013-2014)
Elsunet du Plessis (Pukke, 2013)
Renske Stoltz (Tuks, 2013 & Pukke, 2015)
Jeanie Steyn (Tuks, 2013-2014)
Sigi Burger (Pukke, 2015)
Juline Rossouw (Maties, 2013-2016)
Competition records:
- Most consecutive wins: 12 (Kovsies 2014-2015)
- Most consecutive losses: 13 (UCT 2013-2014)
- Biggest win: 79 goals (Pukke 93-14 TUT, 2016)
- Most goals scored: 98 (Tuks 98-26 UJ, 2014)
- Least goals conceded: 12 (Tuks 78-12 TUT, 2013)
- Most player of the match awards: Zandré Erasmus (Pukke) x6
The teams
Kovsies: Gertriana Retief (GS), Alicia Puren (GS), Marna Claassens (GA, GS), Meagan Roux (GA, WA), Rieze Straeuli (WA, GA), Khanyisa Chawane (C, WA), Khomotso Mamburu (WD), Bethenie du Raan (WD, C), Sikholiwe Mdletshe (WD, C), Tanya Mostert (captain, GD, C), Maryke Coetzee (GD, GK), Ané Retief (GK)
Coach: Burta de Kock
Madibaz: Nolusindiso Twani (GS, GA), Bianca Blom (GS, GA), Zimasa Tshangela (GS, GA), Carla Viviers (GA, GS), Sanelise Mgijima (WA, C), Nandipha Jack (captain, WA, C), Eloise Webb (C, WD), Nobubele Phuza (WD, GD), Vuyiseka Ntsalu (WD, GD), Philene van Niekerk (GK/GD), Jeanie Steyn (GK, GD), Hlumisa Sithonga (GK, GD)
Coach: Lana Krige.
Maties: Charmaine Baard (GS, GA), Nichole Taljaard (GA), Somari Els (GA), Adri Uys (WA), Abeline Olivier (WA), Carla Werth (C), Sasha-Lee Petersen (C, WD), Alison Malgas (WD), Nielke Matthee (GD, WD), Megan Gossmann (captain, GD, WD), Caleigh Stuart (GD, GK), Stephanie Brandt (GK)
Coach: Zanele Mdodana
Assistant coach: Adéle Niemand.
Pukke: Anja Esterhuizen (GS), Claudia van den Berg (GS), Marike Maree (GS, GA), Jessica du Plessis (GA), Mandy Hermanus (WA, C), Nicole Amiras (WA, C), Romé Dreyer (C), Didi Keebine (WD), Chanté Bester (captain, WD), Simoné Rabie (GD, GK), Zandré Erasmus (GK, GD), Monique Reyneke (GK, GD)
Coach: Dorette Badenhorst.
Tuks: Chanté Louw (GS), Duné Streutker (GS), Rumandi Potgieter (GA, WA), Jeanette Vermeulen (GA, WA), Anique Grobler (WA, C), Tshina Mdau (WA, WD), Marlize de Bruin (C, WD), Akosua Mensah (WD, GD), Lungile Mthembu (WD, GD), Shadine van der Merwe (captain, GD, GK), Juzelri Garbers (GD, GK), Jasmine Ziegelmeier (GK)
Coach: Jenny van Dyk.
UJ: Tanya Liechterkost (GS), Erin van Wyk (GS), Kim-roché Holmes (GA), Keabetswe Sihlangu (WA), Courtenay Davis (WA), Precious Mhlari (WA), Angelique Molefe (C), Halala Nxumalo (captain, WD), Kamohelo Masilo (WD), Ntokozo Ramaremisa (GD), Mpumi Mbonambi (GD, GK), Jodie Brown GK)
Coach: Leigh-Ann Smal
Assistant coach: David Maree.
UWC: Jaumbuaije Zauana (GS), Cindy Amsterdam (GA, WA), Jami Vermeulen (WA, GA), Cara-leigh Jospehs (WA), Keesha van Schalkwyk (C, WA), Casandra Fisher (C, WD), Sinesipho Willie (C, WD), Allenor Landsman (WD, GD), Wilmedine Boer (GD, WD), Akhona Faye (GD, WD), Caioly Gabriel (GK, GD), Desmorine Gawanas (captain, GK, GD)
Coach: Janine du Toit
Assistant coach: Freda Kemp.
VUT: Zanele Mokoena (GS), Thokozile Masoka (GS), Tsakani Mthombeni (GS), Sphila Mdlolo (GA), Fezeka Nsele (WA), Innocentia Tshamano (WA), Silondile Mlondo (captain, C), Lerato Moeko (C), Linky Mukhwantheli (WD), Buhle Radebe (GD), Sagwadi Mathonsi (GK), Fikile Makhuba (GK)
Coach: Martha Mosoahle-Samm
Assistant coach: Nokwanda Khumalo
The post Everything you need to know about Varsity Netball 2017 appeared first on .