Not content with being there or thereabout, Maties Netball are planning a concerted push towards a maiden Varsity Netball title.
Maties are the only team outside of Kovsies, NWU and Tuks to have played in a Varsity Netball final. However, that was four years ago, they lost and it was at their Coetzenburg Sport Centre home.
As a result, the longing for a Varsity Netball title in Stellenbosch is strong. So strong, in fact, that Jo Prins and Sasha-Lee Petersen convinced Khomotso Mamburu to leave champions Kovsies to come fortify the Maties defence.
The fact is Maties pushed NWU close at USSA in July, have retained 11 players from 2018, and have two home games to kick-start their season. If it will make the difference for them only time will tell…
Squad:
Sian Moore, Nichole Taljaard (captain), Claudia Jarrard, Carla Werth, Adri Uys, Jo Prins, Caleigh Stuart, Sasha-Lee Petersen, Khomotso Mamburu, Stephanie Brandt, Nicola Smith, Alison Malgas, Bronwyn de Lange, Chrisley Marshall, Nerine Koopman.
Newcomers in Varsity Netball (5): Claudia Jarrard, Nicola Smith, Bronwyn de Lange, Chrisley Marshall, Nerine Koopman.
* Tallest player: Claudia Jarrard (1.88m)
* Shortest player: Adri Uys, Jo Prins and Alison Malgas (all 1.69m)
Coaching staff:
Head coach: Zanele Mdodana
Assistant coach: Adéle Niemand
Team manager: Charlé Coetzer
TEAM RECORDS
Previous performances: 2018 – 4th; 2017 – 3rd; 2016 – 3rd; 2015 – 2nd; 2014 – 4th; 2013 – 6th
Biggest win: 65 goals (92-27 vs VUT, 2017)
Biggest defeat: 31 goals (43-74 vs Tuks, 2017)
Most goals scored: 96 (96-26 vs VUT, 2018)
Least goals scored: 29 (29-52 vs NWU, 2013) & (29-56 vs Kovsies, 2014)
Least goals conceded: 13 (71-13 vs UCT, 2014)
Most goals conceded: 74 (43-74 vs Tuks, 2017)
Most consecutive wins: 5 (2016)
Most consecutive losses: 5 (2013-2014)
2019 FIXTURES
Round 1 vs NWU (26 Aug, 18:00 @ home)
Round 2 vs TUT (2 Sept, 19:00 @ home – LIVE on SuperSport 10)
Round 3 vs Madibaz (8 Sept, 16:30 @ Madibaz Indoor Sport Centre, Madibaz – LIVE on SuperSport 10)
Round 4 vs Tuks (9 Sept, 17:30 @ Madibaz Indoor Sport Centre, Madibaz)
Round 5 vs UWC (15 Sept, 13:30 @ Rembrandt Hall, Tuks)
Round 6 vs UJ (16 Sept, 16:00 @ Rembrandt Hall, Tuks)
Round 7 vs Kovsies (23 Sept, 19:00 @ Callie Human Centre, Kovsies – LIVE on SuperSport 10)
By Ruan Bruwer
