Having lost to Tuks in last year’s final, NWU go into this year’s competition with a new purple uniform as well as a new head coach at the helm and a bunch of new faces with the hopes of bringing the trophy back to Potchefstroom for the third time.
NWU Netball have many reasons to be feeling optimistic going into this year’s competition, having won the title in 2015 and 2016 and also having a former Puk and Protea player appointed as their new head coach in January 2018. 31-year-old Elsunet du Plessis played for NWU from 2007 until 2014, as well as for the Proteas from 2010 until 2016, so there is no shortage of experience or understanding how university netball works on her part.
Not only does the name Elsunet du Plessis stand out, but there a few other familiar names that have been chosen to represent the Proteas. Captain Romé Dreyer, vice-captain Monique Reyneke, Sigi Burger and Jessica du Plessis all boost the NWU side, having been selected for the World University Championships in Uganda in September.
Dreyer, who was the North-West Sportswoman of 2017, has been chosen to represent South Africa in the Netball Quad series beginning on the 15th of September, with Reyneke and Burger also being selected as travelling reserves. Sigi Burger also competed for South Africa at the 2018 Commonwealth Games, as well as playing a season in England for Surrey Storm.
Even though there are a few big names, it is important not to write the newcomers off as they will play as big a role as every other player on the court. Blending newer players with experienced players will also help build a team that will still be competitive in years to come, but also to ensure that there is competition for positions every week and no player gets too comfortable in the starting line-up.
The NWU ladies started their campaign on a positive note, beating UJ 77-27 on Sunday 26 August and then beating defending champions Tuks 81-73 on Monday 27 August. NWU look to keep up their winning ways when they play UWC on Sunday 2 September and then VUT on Monday 3 September 2018.
By Bronwen Bain
