She has played at the highest level, been a TV presenter in front of the camera and now she is sharing her Varsity Netball knowledge behind the microphone as a SuperSport commentator.
Vanes-Mari du Toit, a Protea goal shooter, says she loves every moment.
“This role suits me. I love to chat,” laughs Du Toit. “Sometimes I forget that I am on live TV. I get so excited, like in last Monday in the Maties’ game against Kovsies, I said ‘that was frigging great’, like I would have said to someone sitting next to me next to the court.”
Last year SuperSport used Du Toit as a presenter before Varsity Netball matches, but this year she is “officially part of the SuperSport family” as a commentator. Last Monday she was joined by Debbie Hamman in the commentating booth.
“That was an exciting game! Individually Kovsies have stronger players, but Maties played better as a team.”
The Stellenbosch team won 49-45.
Du Toit is known as a friendly, bubbly woman. She says she hopes she can bring something different to commentating with her personality and spontaneity.
“I can also analyze the game and explain it to the viewer who doesn’t know netball at all or only a little bit. Netball is a relatively new sport on TV. When I started playing, netball wasn’t shown on TV.
“It is a privilege to be part of something that shows people how amazing the sport is, and something that hopefully will help the game grow and attract more sponsors,” said Du Toit.
The goal shooter says commentating also helps her own game, seeing it from a different angle.
“I can now see my passing cannot be that risky.”
Du Toit played for the Proteas in January and the Southern Stings in the Brutal Fruit Premier League, but due to a serious calf injury wasn’t available for the Western Cape.
The Capetonian played Varsity Netball in the very first year of the competition, in 2013.
“I played for Tuks. Everything was still in disorder. Nobody knew where we were supposed to be, what to wear, etc.”
Du Toit said the players walked on campus, distributing pamphlets to tell their fellow students about the netball games.
“I told my friends I would buy them beer, if they come to watch! It is amazing to see how the competition has evolved.”
Du Toit said the standard of play in 2017’s series is very high.
“There isn’t one team that is overwhelming/domineering the rest. Any of the top four can win it.”
Du Toit is very impressed by UWC’s debut. “Their rounding off needs some work, but they are doing very well.
“Varsity Netball gives young players an enormous opportunity to showcase their talent,” said Du Toit. “They get exposure to play in front of a crowd and live TV.
“When we played Ussa, you were lucky if your mother was next to the court supporting. The first time I played before a crowd was at the World Cup. The moment was almost too big.
“Varsity Netball gives players an opportunity to perform under pressure. They get more self-confidence, which in turn makes them train harder,” believes Du Toit.
Seeing young woman play the sport at this level, also encourages school girls to dream about going to university and playing netball, believes Du Toit.
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