UCT came into this year’s Varsity Netball with clear goals in mind: to keep consistencies of attack and defence and to keep their team motto woven into every one of their performances. That motto was to “Give 100% till the end”. Based on their performances over the past few weeks, it is safe to say that they have achieved these goals, no matter the adversities or losses along the way.
UCT began their 2016 season with a brand new squad of ladies, new leadership and new game plans for their performances. As coach Sue Schooling said before her team started out in this year’s competition, “The team is definitely more experienced than last year and has more consistencies.” One problem that faced the team in the past, was the recurrence of injuries, forcing players to withdraw from games and preventing UCT from playing optimally. This year, UCT came in a step up on their physical form and fitness levels, ultimately having far fewer injuries than in the past.
UCT’s run for victory started with a match against VUT, which saw the team coming up tops with a victory of 53-39. The UCT squad went on to battle it out on the court over the next few weeks against teams such as Madibaz, Tuks, Maties, Pukke and UJ. They may have seen losses against all of these teams, but the team displayed a rare quality during just these adverse times: an ability to keep their cool on the court and stay composed.
Each game provided UCT a chance to prove themselves and bring the fire once again, which they never failed to do. They played their last game this past Monday, where they went head-to-head against UJ in Pretoria, with the home side winning 69-46.
Remaining cool and confident even as underdogs, sticking to their original goals, utilising the versatility of their players and most importantly having a blast as a team, the UCT side have shown over this 2016 netball season, that it’s not the size of the team in the fight that matters, but the size of the fight in the team!
Where to from now? UCT, a team that started out as a bunch of aquaintances, have formed a family of their own and are sure to surge ahead in confidence, onto even greater frontiers!
UCT team: Fortuna Bagula (vice-captain); Paula Macnab; Phumi Shandu; Megan McCarley; Simone Peters (captain); Micaela Peters; Robyn Adams; Yeukai Chamba; Itseng Mogorosi; Marelise Coetzer; Marisa Du Preez; Natasha Jooste; Kirsty Macnab.
By Jessie Leverzencie
