Unlike to the previous two years in which the Kovsies entered the Varsity Netball Series as one of the hot favourites, you’d have to be quite brave to put your money on them this year.
The Kovsies, winners of the first two titles in 2013 and 2014, have lost three key members in Karla Mostert, Lauren-Lee Christians (both national players) and Ané Botha. They all played in the previous three editions.
In fact, between Mostert (2014 and 2015) and Botha (2013) they scooped all three the awards for the player of the series.
Mostert, who captained the team in 2014 and 2015, is too old (26) to play for them any longer. Botha isn’t a Kovsies student anymore and Christians did not achieve the necessary credits last year to allow her to participate in the series this year.
In their absence, the Free State students have a very young team with Tanya Mostert at 22 years of age the oldest member. She is also the new captain, but did duty in that role during the Ussa champs in July before, where they ended third.
Only seven members are left from last year. They are Gertriana Retief, Rieze Straeuli (shooters), Lefébre Rademan (goal attack and wing attack), Tanya Mostert (centre, wing defence and goal defence), Khanyisa Chawane (centre and wing defence), Khomotso Mamburu (wing defence and goal defence) and Alicia Puren (goal keeper).
Lots of players can play more than one position which will be of a big advantage. They were also handed a very favourable fixture list. They play one of their toughest games, against the UP-Tuks, at home and only the match against Maties in Stellenbosch will be an away match against a team playing at home.
Apart from the match against the University of Johannesburg in Bloemfontein, all the remaining fixtures (against VUT, Ikeys, Madibaz and Pukke) will be on neutral courts in Stellenbosch and Johannesburg.
The team will again be coached by Burta de Kock with the injured Protea captain, Maryka Holtzhausen as her assistant.
Kovsies squad: Gertriana Retief, Rieze Straeuli, Danelle Lochner, Lefébre Rademan, Khanyisa Chawane, Mariska Pieters, Tanya Mostert, Khomotso Mamburu, Alicia Puren, Rykie Venter, Frances Hurling, Johané Janse van Rensburg, Chantene Borlinghaus, Deidre Fourie, Nonhlanhla Sikhakhane.
Kovsies records
Best performance: 1st (2013 and 2014)
Biggest win: 76 goals (89-13 vs UCT, 2013)
Biggest defeat: 13 goals (vs Pukke, 2013)
Least goals scored: 41 (vs NMMU, 2013 & vs Maties, 2015)
Most goals scored: 91 (vs UCT, 2015)
Least goals conceded: 17 (vs UCT, 2014)
Most goals conceded: 60 (vs Pukke, 2013)
