The Proteas Netball team is confident of bringing back a medal from the 2019 Netball World Championships to be staged in England in July, and that will be just what South Africans need to bring back the smiles to their faces.
This year three of national teams – the Under 20 men’s football team, Banyana Banyana, and the men’s national cricket – were knocked out in the first round of their World Cups.
The Proteas netball team’s game has improved since the last World Cup four years ago with World Cup winning coach, Norma Plummer having come on board.
With the team’s members playing their trade in overseas leagues, the gap between the Proteas and top teams like England and New Zealand amongst others has narrowed.
The recent performances against England and New Zealand as well as in this year’s Quad series give the players confidence going into the World Cup.
“We’ve worked so hard to be where we are. I think, us as a team, obviously with Norma being on board, we deserve better. We are at a point where we are excited to go to a World Cup compared to the last time around. It’s nice to go out there knowing we can compete and can win the title,” says Proteas Captain, Bongi Msomi.
Even the coach is happy with progress and growth of the players in last five years.
The players are aware of performances of SA’s other national teams in their respective tournaments, but that will not be on their minds with their focus on the prize when the Netball World Cup kicks off.
The team leaves for Wales on Friday where it will play two tests against that country’s national team as part of preparations for the World Cup.
