1. The Madibaz have a noteworthy coaching staff
Head coach Lana Krige, assistant coach Elsjé Jordaan and team manager Yolandi Saalmans all played for the Proteas in their days. Jordaan captained the team and is an attacking specialist. Krige focusses on the defenders. Both of them acted as a Protea assistant coach. Krige coached the national Fast5 side before of whiles Jordaan was recently appointed as coach of this team.
2. PE’s netball is better than its singing
Singing the national anthem before a match is an unique Varsity Sports concept and a special thing for players alike. But in Port Elizabeth on Sunday the players struggled to keep their laugher for a poor rendition of the anthem. Thankfully NMMU choir’s performances in Varsity Sing will be sure to overshadow this, as they have reached the Varsity Sing semi-finals.
3. Only one out of just over 100 participants in Varsity Netball is married
She is Melissa Kotze, previously Myburgh of UP-Tuks. Last year Mioné Marais of the Madibaz was the only one. Juline Rossouw of Maties and Izette Lubbe of UP-Tuks are both engaged.
4. Sentle Ditedu of VUT is one of the most versatile players in the competition
She can play centre, wing attack and goal attack as she did against UJ. Tanya Mostert, captain of the Kovsies, is another very adaptable player who can slot in either at centre, wing defence, goal defence or goal keeper.
5. Still waiting for a tight encounter in the competition
All of the first 12 matches thus far has been one-sided, well in terms of the end results. In only one match – the Madibaz beating UJ by 58-50 – was the losing margin less than ten goals. Thus no bonus points for losing by seven or less goals have been registered yet.
