After two heavy defeats in their first three matches in Varsity Netball 2016, the Kovsies can’t afford another loss this weekend if they are to stay in the running for a place in the semi-finals.
The 2016 year is a rebuilding one for the Free State students with many of their senior players no longer available. Close to half of the squad members are first year students.
Coach Burta de Kock admitted that they are lacking some experienced heads, but said that is how it goes in sport and every now and then a team finds itself in a rebuilding phase.
“The last couple of years we were very fortunate to have the likes of Karla Mostert, Lauren-Lee Christians, Ané Botha and Danelle Willemse, so to lose them all at once is tough. But I’m extremely excited about the youngsters we have at the moment. They simply need game time to develop and to gain experience. We definitely have the talent,” she said.
Where the Pukke could ring the changes in their massive 58-36 win of the Kovsies on Monday, De Kock did not have the same luxury. To make things worse, all three her shooters, Gertriana Retief, Danelle Lochner and Rieze Straeuli, are lacking the necessary confidence to shoot at 80% or more, as the Pukke did on Monday, managing 89%.
De Kock said it is not due to a lack of practice as they put in a lot of hours under the net. She believes the hard work will start reaping the rewards at some point.
On Sunday and Monday the Kovsies get an opportunity to redeem themselves when they come up against UCT (Sunday at 13:00) and the Madibaz (Monday at 17:30 live on SuperSport) in Stellenbosch.
The Capetonians should not pose too much of a challenge, but the Madibaz could be a bit of a tricky one, especially if they get their tails up.
Previous meetings between Kovsies and UCT in Varsity Netball:
2015: Kovsies 91 – UCT 19
2014: Kovsies 71 – UCT 17
2013: Kovsies 89 – UCT 13
Previous meetings between Kovsies and Madibaz in Varsity Netball:
2015: Kovsies 71 – Madibaz 31
2014: Kovsies 53 – Madibaz 38
2013: Kovsies 41 – Madibaz 52, Kovsies 61 – Madibaz 49 (semi-final)
Kovsies team: Gertriana Retief, Rieze Straeuli, Danelle Lochner, Lefébre Rademan, Khanyisa Chawane, Mariska Pieters, Tanya Mostert (C), Khomotso Mamburu, Alicia Puren, Rykie Venter, Frances Hurling, Chantene Borlinghaus.
