16 November 2011

Liverpool, United Kingdom - There are several changes to the SPAR National Netball Team for the Fast Net tournament in Liverpool at the end of November, with stylish goal attack Maryke Holtzhausen and wing/goal defence Precious Mthembu returning to the national team.

Karla Mostert and Kgomotso Itlhabanyeng have also been included in the team.  Both have been involved in the Netball South Africa (NSA) training programme since the beginning of the year, and Itlhabanyeng was part of the South Africa team for the All-Africa Games earlier this year.

“Eighty per cent of the team are very experienced and there is no-one in the squad who is totally new,” said head coach Elize Kotze. “I’m very happy to have Maryka back in the team.  She is a very important part of the squad.”

The six top ranked countries from 2010 – Australia, New Zealand, England, Jamaica, South Africa and Fiji – will be taking part in the Fast Net tournament from November 25 to 27. Fast Net is the netball equivalent of Twenty20 cricket.  Quarters are only six minutes long, shooters can score from inside or outside the goal circle, with goals scored from outside earning double points, and rolling substitutions are allowed throughout the match.  Each team can also select one quarter as a power play, when all goals scored are doubled.

“It’s very fast and it’s very exciting,” said Kotze.  “You have to play a very technical and tactical game.  Maryka and Chrisna (Bootha) have been practising shooting from outside the circle, because during the power play, goals scored from outside the circle are worth four points. Those things become important, because you know that every time you score a goal, the other side is going to get the ball.”

Kotze said Fast Net would help the players to hone their skills and this would improve their performances in normal netball. “For instance, if the goal shooters become comfortable shooting from outside the circle, they will feel more confident about getting out of their comfort zone inside the circle when they play in a standard game.  That can affect the defenders, who are used to defending closer to the goalposts.”

The team will have a training camp from November 18 ahead of their departure for Liverpool.

SPAR National Netball Team: Tsakane Mbewe, Chrisna Bootha, Maryka Holtzhausen, Vanes-Mari du Toit, Bongiwe Msomi, Erin Burger, Nokuthula (Thuli) Qegu, Amanda Mynhardt (capt), Kgomotso Itlhabanyeng, Zukelwa Cwaba, Karla Mostert, Precious Mthembu.