Maties will be hoping for a case of third time lucky when they contest the 2021 Varsity Netball final at the Coetzenburg Indoor Centre against Kovsies, who are yet to lose a final in the competition.
Maties reached the final in 2015 and 2019, but fell short on both occasions, while Kovsies, are playing in their fourth final, having been victorious in 2013, 2014 and 2018.
The Maroon Machine have won all eight of their fixtures in this year’s competition. Kovsies’ only defeat came in their first round-fixture against the Stellenbosch students.
‘Winning the final would be the ultimate reward for all our hard work and dedication. That is how we want to honour the dress,’ says Maties captain Sian Moore, who is thrilled to have head coach Zanele Mdonana back courtside after she had to isolate due to Covid-19.
‘It was great to have Zan return [before Round 6]. We love our coach in action. We have a great management team in place so [assistant coach] Adele [Niemand] stepped up big time and Maties’ High-Performance Unit put some tech in place so we could have Zan with us virtually. We controlled the controllables and that is how we play the game.’
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Kovsies captain Sikholiwe Mdletshe says her team has learned a lot since their opening-round defeat to Maties.
‘We are implementing the game plan better and feel more comfortable now. We have clear minds. We will stick to our guns. We back ourselves to win the final.’
Centre pass for the final is at 19:00 and it will be broadcast live on SuperSport Variety 4 (DStv channel 209).
Fast facts
- If Maties win Monday night’s final, they will become only the second team after Tuks (in 2019) to finish a Varsity Netball campaign unbeaten.
- Kovsies won the first three encounters between the teams, Maties the next two, Kovsies the next three, followed by two consecutive wins by Maties.
- These teams have played against each other six times in Stellenbosch, with each claiming three victories.
- The two assistant coaches, Adéle Niemand (Maties) and Karin Venter (Kovsies), are former teammates who played together as defenders for Kovsies, Free State and the Proteas for many years.
- Both teams have two Proteas – Khanyisa Chawane and Sikholiwe Mdletshe for Kovsies and Sian Moore and Nicola Smith for Maties.
Head-to-head
Played: 10
Kovsies won: 6
Maties won: 4
2013: Kovsies 56 Maties 33, Stellenbosch
FNB Player of the Match: Juline van der Merwe (Maties)
2014: Kovsies 56 Maties 29, Johannesburg
FNB Player of the Match: Karla Pretorius (Kovsies)
2015: Kovsies 41 Maties 33, Stellenbosch
FNB Player of the Match: Karla Pretorius (Kovsies)
2016: Maties 54 Kovsies 38, Stellenbosch
FNB Player of the Match: Jo Prins (Maties)
2017: Maties 49 Kovsies 45, Stellenbosch
FNB Player of the Match: Khanyisa Chawane (Kovsies)
2018: Kovsies 59 Maties 56, Stellenbosch
FNB Player of the Match: Lefébre Rademan (Kovsies)
2018: Kovsies 56 Maties 45, Bloemfontein (semi-final)
FNB Player of the Match: Stephanie Brandt (Maties)
2019: Kovsies 65 Maties 61, Bloemfontein
FNB Player of the Match: Ané Retief (Kovsies)
2019: Maties 62 Kovsies 60, Bloemfontein (semi-final)
FNB Player of the Match: Ané Retief (Kovsies)
2021: Maties 54 Kovsies 46, Stellenbosch
FNB Player of the Match: Syntiche Kabuya (Maties)
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Compiled by Ruan Bruwer & Eunice Visagie
Photo: Kevin Sawyer/Varsity Sports
