PROTEAS LOOK TO TAKE GAME TO NEXT LEVEL
SOUTH Africa’s netball side have ramped up their preparations for the 2018 Commonwealth Games with a visit to the region ahead of the upcoming Quad Series.
The Proteas are in Coolangatta this week with Tweed-based coach and 52Test Australian veteran Nicole Cusack.
The side has played a match against Queensland’s men’s state team and a Queensland state league side in Coomera last night before the Quad Series opener against New Zealand in Brisbane on Saturday night.
After promising performances in the corresponding series in 2016, Proteas captain Bongiwe Msomi said the side had been making serious progress, and was confident of taking it up to netball’s powerhouse countries.
“We used to play against them and we’d get brushed, but in a year or two, we’ve really put our foot down, so when we step on to the court they can expect us to perform,” Msomi said.
“In last year’s Quad Series we were in all the games and lowered the scores, so this time we feel we can step up even further and that’s exciting. We know it’s going to be tough, but we’re trying to crack a win amongst the best teams.”
After a breakout season in England’s Netball Superleague this year with Wasps, Msomi has been signed by the Adelaide Thunderbirds for the 2018 Super Netball season. She joins defender Karla Mostert (Sunshine Coast Lightning) and centre Erin Burger (Queensland Firebirds), as Proteas playing in the world’s best league.
Mostert, a star in the Lightning’s run to the 2017 title, said while the easier route would be collecting wins against lower-ranked countries, the Proteas’ improvement would only continue by pushing themselves against the best sides like Australia.
“They (Australia) are usually a very physical team and they have a lot of experience,” she said.
“They play and train week in and week out, and we don’t really have that in South Africa. So they’re a few steps ahead of us.”