Each week of Varsity Netball we highlight seven things which caught our attention, and we think will amuse you too.
1. One person Retske Stoltz, goal attack of NWU-Pukke is going to spoil with her player of the match prize money (against Kovsies) is Yolandé du Preez, one of her best friends and a player from UP-Tuks. They will be heading off for some sushi that is a favourite for both of them.
2. Two players in the final who have won two player of the match awards are Sigi Burger of the Pukke and Nelandré Mostert of Maties.
3. Three things you didn’t know about Kendra Szeles, goalkeeper of UJ, is that she is from Hungarian descent, in 2013 she was invited to attend the Stanford University Basketball camp in California, USA and her dream travel destination is Mount Machu Picchu, Peru.
4. Four players that would be key in determining the new Varsity Netball champions are Sigi Burger (goal shooter of the NWU-Pukke), Renske Stoltz (goal attack, NWU-Pukke), Suné Claassens (centre, Maties) and Jo Prins (wing attack, Maties).
5. Five things we learned from Round Seven of Varsity Netball is that pressure does funny things to players, a disappointingly small crowd rocked up for the first semifinal in Pretoria, Dorette Badenhorst, coach of the Pukke, was in tears after their shock win over the Kovsies, Zandré Kruger’s votes for player of the tournament have drastically increased after her performance on Monday for the Pukke and Karla Mostert has played her last Varsity netball match as she will be too old next year.
6. Six of the best for umpires who seemed to have suddenly, towards the latter part of the series become very strict, especially in blowing for contact. It is all good and well to set high standards on what is allowed and what is not, but then it should have been implemented from the start of the competition and throughout it. One could clearly see the players becoming frustrated at some of the calls.
7. Seven players (excluding any of her own teammates) Arné Rust, centre of the Madibaz, would select for her Varsity Dream Team are Lenize Potgieter (UP-Tuks), Melandi Pretorius (Maties), Ané Botha (Kovsies), Suné Claassens (Maties), Tanya Mostert (Kovsies), Karla Mostert (Kovsies) and Zandré Kruger (NWU-Pukke).
By Ruan Bruwer, Volksblad
