Kovsies have no intention of taking their foot of the pedal in this year’s Varsity Netball tournament and are eyeing a spot in the final of the inaugural competition.
The University of the Free State side are well on their way to book a place in the semifinals of the competition after beating Ikeys 89-13 at the Callie Human centre at home on Monday.
Bettering the record score that NWU Puk recorded against TUT in the second round, Burta de Kock (coach) and her side need only beat Maties this Monday to make sure of their place in the knock-out stages.
“We did very well against Ikeys. For us it was an opportunity to try out some new combinations. When our Proteas players are away for the coming triangular series against England and Trinidad and Tobago, our remaining players will need to fill the void. We saw some positives against Ikeys,” De Kock said.
Kovsies will lose the services of Maryka Holtzhausen, Adéle Niemand and Karla Mostert for the coming internationals, while Ané Botha and Lauren-Lee Christians were also invited to the Proteas trials that will be held this weekend at Tuks in Pretoria.
“For us it is a great honour to have so many representatives in the national structures and we hope that both Ané and Lauren-Lee get their chance to represent the national side. Those players that remain will have to help Kovsies for the remainder of the series. We want to play in the final and we want to win it,” De Kock added.
Kovsies are on a high after their recent successes in the competition and De Kock says that motivation is one of the aspects she need not bother with when it comes to her players.
“Normally we have a rest day on Tuesdays, but the players want to practice. They are that motivated to achieve success. It makes it so much easier when you as a coach know that all your charges are motivated and raring at the opportunity to play,” De Kock said.
The former Proteas coach lastly had a couple of good word for Ikeys, who have established themselves as bottom feeders in this year’s competition.
“After the game I went over to Ikeys and I congratulated them on never giving up. They tried till the very end and that is commendable,” De Kock added.
