NMU Madibaz captain Nandipha Jack remains positive after a disappointing campaign in this year’s Varsity Netball competition. The ladies from Port Elizabeth will be finishing in fifth place this year after failing to win their home games to make the semi-finals, which are still to take place.
In a season plagued by injuries, Jack sees the positives in players brought into unfamiliar territory. New players in new positions, and new players in the NMU team helped NMU take home three wins, all with bonus points. They know they can do well and score the goals they need to be the difference in next year’s campaign.
Jack is still full of hope for a team that is still in building.
“This year has been an up and down one for us in that we lost players but gained new players as well. We were able to move players into new positions and create new formations and hopefully these newly formed combinations will come back stronger next year and help us gain our confidence.”
After not making the top four this year, NMU will be looking to build on their first years and new players like Jeannie Steyn in defence as goalkeeper and Carla de Villiers who really showed she is up for the big leagues.
As they will have to watch the semi-finals from the sidelines, NMU will have to work hard to be more clinical next season when it comes down to the wire against strong opposition like this year’s unbeaten NWU and they will need to take advantage of their home support.
With a team striving to get their first title under the belt, the Madibaz ladies will look to make use of their skills and character and add to that, and Jack and her team will be hoping for a better result next year.
Be sure to catch the two semi-finals on the 2nd October. First between Tuks and Maties at 17:00, then reigning and unbeaten champions Pukke against Kovsies at 19:00.
By Shawn Marsh
