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The Netball World Cup in July will not necessarily signal a swansong for the veterans in the Proteas squad, as some could still be good enough to appear at the global showpiece that South Africa is hosting in 2023.
While there is a succession plan in place to inject new blood into the team, Netball SA president Cecilia Molokwane hinted that netball players can participate at the highest level even in their late thirties – or be exceptional cases such as South African- born New Zealand legend Irene van Dyk who retired at 41.
This is a sentiment echoed by former Proteas star Dumisani Chauke, who is now a development coach.
Six players, who have been named in the provisional Proteas World Cup squad that starts camp in Pretoria today, are aged between 30 and 35.
They are Zanele Vimbela (30), team captain Bongi Msomi (31), Erin Burger and Maryka Holtzhausen (both 32), and Phumza Maweni and Precious Mthembu (both turning 35).
In the midst of these oldies, there is a significant presence of youth that represents the future of South African netball.
“It’s exciting to have a number of youngsters in the team with an average age of between 21 and 23. This is a good sign that we have a succession plan in place,” Molokwane told City Press.
Centre Khanyisa Chawane (23), alongside Danelle Lochner (21), Ine-Mari Venter (24) and Lenize Potgieter (25), spearheads the new generation who are already raising their hands to carry the torch into the future.
The enterprising centre from Tzaneen in Limpopo said she was hoping for good health to make the final team to the World Cup in Liverpool from July 12 to 21 – and wishes to be still around for the 2023 tournament.
“It’s all about working hard, being dedicated and praying,” said the player who made her senior debut against Australia last year. I don’t want any delays or injuries within the years building up to that year.”
Goalkeeper Vimbela is equally hopeful to mark her maiden World Cup appearance in England and stick around for the next edition on home soil. “I hope to be playing international netball series or tournaments that lead up to the 2023 World Cup, competitions such as the quad series,” said Vimbela, who turns 30 today.
Chauke, who is a sports organiser at Tshwane University of Technology, said: “Players can play right into their mid-thirties. [But] it did not make sense to me to keep playing when it felt like I was taking up space for the players that I was coaching to progress. We will have a fair share of young players because everyone will want to play in the green and gold in front of the local crowd [in 2023].”
Chauke believes that the team’s mixture of old and young players put youngsters at an advantage of being well groomed to compete with the best teams at the highest level.
“The younger players will be ready to take the baton and carry on with the journey and help improve our world rankings. Now with them playing on home ground [in 2023], I think they will want to do great and make South Africa proud. A top four finish is not too far away from SA netball,” she added.
Meanwhile, coach Norma Plummer – who steered Australia to two World Cup titles – will also arrive in Pretoria today for the training camp until next Sunday (May 5). She still lives in her home country and comes to SA when duty calls. She will announce the final team on June 26.
South Africa, who qualified for Liverpool 2019 by virtue of their top six ranking in the world, want to better their fifth place finish at the last global spectacle in 2015
