Formidable addition to the defensive unit
Team Bath Netball have added one of the world’s most formidable goal-keepers to their stellar defensive ranks after signing South Africa star Phumza Maweni for the 2022 Vitality Superleague season.
The vastly-experienced international says she cannot wait to link up with a dynamic defensive unit featuring England Roses Layla Guscoth, Imogen Allison and Serena Guthrie, rising stars Molly Hole and Tash Pavelin, and fellow newcomer Lily-may Catling after being confirmed as the Haines Wattssponsored Blue & Gold’s 15th player for the new campaign.
“I’m really excited to be joining Team Bath,” said Maweni, pictured. “I want to deliver what I can for the club and use the strengths I have to make a difference for the team.
“As a defender I’m vertical and vocal – you need to talk and guide people in the goal-keeper position. I am easy to work with and I am very willing to learn from other players, always open to new approaches.
“I’m looking forward to working with everyone in the Bath family and am keen to learn what I can from them. To play alongside someone like Layla will be a real highlight, she is one of those athletes who has everything.
“Serena is a great of netball and it will be amazing to play with her, and Imogen is incredibly athletic at wing-defence. Team Bath’s shooting circle is very strong too and I can’t wait to see what we can do. It’s going to be a massive, massive season.”
Maweni is no stranger to the Superleague, having had previous spells with Loughborough Lightning and Severn Stars, and has spent the past three years in Australia’s Suncorp Super Netball as an ever-present for Sunshine Coast Lightning, playing all 47 of their matches and forging an outstanding combination with fellow South African international and former Team Bath goal-defence Karla Pretorius.
She is also a regular starter for her country and was named as best defender as the SPAR Proteas won the recent Africa Netball
Cup. Maweni is set to represent South Africa against England, Australia and New Zealand during January’s Quad Series and will link up with her new club afterwards in time for the 2022 Superleague season, which begins in February.
“I played for Lightning in 2015 and Stars in 2018 before moving to Australia,” said Maweni. “I remember Team Bath as one of the teams who were always hard to play against, strong in both attack and defence.
“I had the best time in Australia, it was massive for me to play there for three years and I learnt so much during my time at Sunshine Coast Lightning.
“I was really grateful for the opportunity and I think I had three great seasons.
“I enjoyed my time off the court as well, exploring and experiencing a different culture.”
Anna Stembridge – Superleague Head Coach for Team Bath, who are also supported by Rengen – said: “We are absolutely delighted that Phumza will be joining us for the new Superleague season. Her style of defending will really compliment the players we have but, equally importantly, she is the type of character and personality we look for.
“Phumza is an extremely athletic and rangy keeper, and she is a real thinker on the court too. You can see her working out the strengths of the opposing shooter and finding the opportunities that she can exploit.
“She is coming here off the back of a successful spell in Australia and some fantastic performances for her country. Phumza is going to be a formidable addition to our defensive unit and we can’t wait to welcome her into the Blue & Gold family.”
Exciting attacking players Kim Borger, Betsy Creak, Sophie Drakeford-lewis, Kirsty Harris, Lily Jones, Hannah Passmore, Jess Shaw and Rachel Shaw have also been named in the Team Bath squad for the 2022 Superleague season.
Fans will have an early chance to see the Superleague squad in action at the Team Bath Arena before Christmas as the Blue & Gold, London Pulse and Wasps do battle for the Lyn Gunson Trophy on Saturday, December 18.
There will be three matches to enjoy – at 11.30am, 1pm and 2.30pm – and tickets for the whole day are available now priced £14.50 for adults and £10 concessions. Visit netball.teambath.com/ tri-tournament-2021 for details.