Never in her wildest dreams did she think she would move to Cape Town. Never would she have thought she would be a Maties netball coach. But that is exactly what has happened to the former Protea defender, Adéle Niemand. 

This Kovsie alumni is now an assistant coach for Maties, and it is all thanks to her friend, former team mate and roommate Zanele Mdodana.

Niemand was a fixture in a Free State team, whether it was for the provincial team, the Crinums or the Kovsies. Then she decided to make Cape Town her home in 2017.

“Whenever we were together on a netball tour we would be roommates,” she said about Mdodana, the Maties head coach. Now Mdodana and Niemand are sitting together on the Maties bench.

And together they get excited and animated about their team’s performance on the court. As was the case last Monday, when Maties overcame a spirited challenge from the Bloemfonteiners to record a victory of 49-45, mainly due to their home support.

The Stellenbosch students are currently fourth on the log. They play their last group match on Monday at 19:00 against Madibaz on their home court in Stellenbosch. That game will determine where and who they will play in the semi-finals on 2 October.

“Zanele approached me at the beginning of the year asking if I want to be an assistant coach. I hadn’t thought about it. I hadn’t even thought about moving to Cape Town. But both happened,” said Niemand.

Mdodana, a Port Elizabeth local, took up the position of head coach of Maties at the beginning of January. She took over from Christine Behan, who was the Stellenbosch coach for four years.

“We think the same about netball. She is obviously the attacking coach and I am working with the defence.

“I am glad she gave me the opportunity. It happened sooner than I would have thought (being a coach).”

Niemand, one of the best goal keepers South Africa has produced, has been Mdodana’s roommate whenever they were on tour together.

Niemand played 80 tests for the Proteas and Mdodana 85.  

This is experience of more that 160 tests, which the Maties surely must have embraced thus far in this year’s campaign.

Niemand retired after 2015’s World Cup in Sydney. Mdodana played until the middle of 2015. She was the captain of the Proteas in 2012 and 2013 and played her last big tournament at 2011’s World Cup in Singapore.

“If you were fortunate enough to have played for the Proteas and gained experience, you can’t keep it for yourself. You want to pass it on to others,” believes Niemand.

The former defender admits it is weird sitting next to the court and not being on it. Especially as a Maties coach against her former team the Kovsies as in last Monday night’s game.

“I know Burta (De Kock, the Kovsies coach) so well, and the style of netball she coaches,” said Niemand.

“Maties can do it. On Monday against Kovsies they got everything together and proved they are the better team.”

As a former defender, Niemand is responsible for the coaching of the defenders, of which Stephanie Brandt (goal keeper) is an outstanding player.

“Stephanie has a promising career. She has the potential. She must just begin to believe in herself. She is only 21.

“I do believe she already has learnt a lot playing for South Africa at the World Youth Championships earlier this year. She has played at that level.”

Being a Maties coach, takes good planning, as Niemand doesn’t live in the Eikestad, and has a full time job as a medical representative.

She admits it takes good planning, but she enjoys every moment.