Three became Proteas after first appearing in Varsity Netball, one was the world’s best netballer, four played in overseas leagues, four are in the current Proteas group and five are Kovsies.
Yes, we are referring to those who have won the Varsity Netball Player of the Tournament award since the first edition in 2013.
You will see their faces on a striking banner during this year’s tournament at Stellenbosch University’s Coetzenburg Indoor Centre from 21-30 August.
2019 – LEFÉBRE RADEMAN (KOVSIES)
Rademan made her Varsity Netball debut as a first-year student. In her five years of playing in the competition (2015-2019), she was chosen for the South African U21 team (2016-2017), the SA President’s XII (2018) and eventually the Proteas (2019). She has earned 15 Test caps.
The goal attack hit top form for Kovsies in 2018 (FNB Player of the Match in the final won by her team) and in 2019 (Player of the Tournament as well as the Players’ Player of the Tournament).
‘Varsity Netball is one of the most exciting tournaments to be part of,’ she says. ‘It helped me develop as a player and a person. I’ve learned and grown a lot and that gave me the confidence to get more opportunities. I am grateful.’
Rademan played for London Pulse in the European Netball Superleague in 2021.
2018 – KHANYISA CHAWANE (KOVSIES)
It is hard to imagine that a player could experience a better year than Chawane’s in 2018. She was the Player of the Tournament at Varsity Netball, the Premier League and the National Championship.
Chawane was chosen for the Proteas as well as the South African Fas5 team. She appeared in 37 Tests after debuting during 2018 Varsity Netball. Since wearing the Kovsie playing kit for the first time in 2015 she has also gone on to captain the Baby Proteas and ran out for Bath in the European Netball Superleague.
‘Playing in Varsity Netball was the greatest platform to set out a foundation to play against the best and grow,’ she says. ‘Being in the best university with excellent coaches, training programmes and facilities, it was only a matter of time before one starts seeing the fruits.
‘What I loved the most is that Varsity Netball gives you exposure and experience at a very young age. Today, we see youngsters getting national call-ups because of what this campaign sets out for us.’
2017 – KHOMOTSO MAMBURU (KOVSIES)
Although Mamburu was the standout player in 2017, one could argue that she was even better in 2018 in her final year with Kovsies.
Mamburu’s form in 2018 led to selection for the SA Students and SA Fast5 teams. She also helped the Free State students to claim their third Varsity Netball trophy with two Player of the Match awards. As one of three finalists in 2016 Varsity Netball, Khomotso had already come close to earning the Player of the Tournament award.
In her very last match before retirement in 2019, she earned the Player of the Match award, although in a losing cause playing for Maties against Tuks (she did her post-graduate in Stellenbosch).
Mamburu has also represented the national U20 and U21 teams.
2016 – SHADINE VAN DER MERWE (TUKS)
Van der Merwe was part of Varsity Netball right from the start.
In 2015, her tournament was cut short due to an anterior cruciate ligament injury. A year later, she was back with a bang and although her side lost by a single goal in the final to NWU, her impact in the competition was significant. In her final year, in 2017, she captained Tuks to the title.
Van der Merwe played her first of 47 Tests in 2015.
‘Varsity Netball gave me the exposure through TV coverage to get seen by the national selectors,’ she says. ‘I grew so much thanks to the experience I gained there.
‘Varsity Sports opens so many doors for students to pursue their sporting dreams. I would also not be where I am today without Tuks.’
The 28-year-old is currently plying her trade in the Australian Super Netball tournament.
2014 & 2015 – KARLA PRETORIUS (NÉE MOSTERT, KOVSIES)
Pretorius was already a member of the South African netball team by the time Varsity Netball arrived in 2013. She left an indefinite footprint in the three years with Kovsies in the competition.
In the 2013 final, Pretorius was named the Player of the Match after helping Kovsies to their first title. As captain in 2014 and 2015, her side only lost twice and in three clashes she was the standout player. Her final university netball campaign was as the winning captain of the SA Students at the 2016 World University Championship.
In 2015, Pretorius was also the Player of the Tournament in the Premier League. Two years later she became the first South African to compete in Australia’s Super Netball where she is still contracted at the Sunshine Coast Lightning.
Pretorius’ finest moment came in 2019 when she was named as the Player of the Tournament at the World Cup, making her the planet’s top netballer. Earlier that year, she won the Quad Series Player of the Series award.
2013 – ANÉ BESTER (NÉE BOTHA, KOVSIES)
Many netball pundits, especially in the Free State, will tell you Bester is one of the unluckiest not to have played for South Africa.
She was a stalwart for Kovsies and Free State and later for the Jaguars and Fireballs in the Telkom Netball League. She made the national U18, U20 and student teams.
In the inaugural Varsity Netball, Bester was not only chosen as the Player of the Tournament, but her peers (and opponents) voted her as the Players’ Player of the Tournament.
She was a member of Kovsies in Varsity Netball from 2013 to 2015, and played her last competitive match in 2018.
By Ruan Bruwer
