She might still be on 0 caps for the Proteas after nearly a month on national duty, but the experience has been invaluable to her, says Ine-Marí Venter.
The 1.92m tall shooter of UP-Tuks sat on the bench for five tests without getting any game-time. When she played her first Varsity Netball match last week against the University of Johannesburg, it was her first proper game in more than two months. She wasn’t in action at last month’s National Champs as the Proteas were all withdrawn.
“I learned so much whilst being with the national team, even though I didn’t play. To train with the best players and see how they do things was a very good learning school.
“I also grew in the position of goal attack and trained there a lot,” Venter said.
The 22-year old last played goal attack in her grade six year.
“Norma Plummer (Protea mentor coach) asked me at the beginning of the year when I trained with the team if I’d be interested in developing into a goal attack as well, as she believed it’s beneficial to be able to play in a second position. I took on the challenge as I see myself as a moving shooter who doesn’t just stand under the net.”
With the shooters Chanté Louw, Duné Streutker, Rumandi Potgieter, Anique Grobler and Jeanette Vermeulen all in their first and second year of Varsity Netball, Tuks would have been glad to welcome back Venter. In her two matches to date, she slotted 73 from 97 attempts for an average of 75%.
According to her the time away from her study books took its toll. She is doing her BSc in Agric Animal Science.
“I’m in my fourth year and it is combined with a honours degree. It is a very tough year and requires a huge amount of studying.”
She said the possibility of a third netball crown for Pretoria following the triumph in the Premier League and National Champs excites her and serves as an extra motivation over the next couple of weeks.
Tuks should claim a home semi-final on Monday when they come up against the University of the Western Cape in Pretoria.
