Two former and two current Varsity Netball players will form the backbone of the national Fast5 team that is selected for the Fast5 World Series on 29 and 30 October.
The team set for Melbourne will be led by Lauren-Lee Christians (Kovsies, 2013-2015) and her deputy will be Vanes-Mari du Toit (UP-Tuks, 2014). The duo, together with Juline Rossouw of Maties, are the only three players in the Proteas Fast5 team who have represented their country in this format before.
A team member and someone who can have a big influence with her ability to shoot from long distances, is Charmaine Baard of Maties. Baard has the range of shooting from outside the circle, something that will be worth three points in this version of the game.
Three Tuks players, Tshina Mdau, Ine-Marí Venter and Marlize de Bruin also find themselves in the team, together with Tanya Mostert, captain of Kovsies.
Both non-traveling reserves, Elsunet du Plessis and Nobubele Phuza, played Varsity Netball for NWU-Pukke and the Madibaz respectively. Apart from South Africa, defending champions New-Zealand, Malawi, Jamaica, England and Australia will all be in action. The Proteas will be coached by Elsjé Jordaan, currently an assistant coach at the Madibaz.
South African Fast5 team: Thuli Nhleko (Mpumalanga), Fikile Mkhuzangwe (North West), Marlize de Bruin, Ine-Marí Venter, Tshina Mdau (all Gauteng), Juline Rossouw, Vanes-Mari du Toit, Charmaine Baard (all Western Cape), Lauren-Lee Christians, Tanya Mostert (both Free State).
Non-traveling reserves: Elsunet du Plessis (KwaZulu-Natal) and Nobubele Phuza (Eastern Cape).
