Netball looks to add new rungs to ladder
Now that a solid foundation has been laid, and fresh life has been breathed into the sport following a number of high-profile changes, South African netball stands on the cusp of a new era.
The outgoing administration did well to create a foundation in recent years by sorting out transformation concerns, launching the continent’s first semi-professional league and roping in renowned Australian coach Norma Plummer.
Most importantly, perhaps, they cemented the lengthy sponsorship deal with Spar and established a new relationship with SAB under its Brutal Fruit brand, ensuring corporate backing in order to take the sport forward.
But with the code on the verge of a breakthrough, as the most popular women’s sport in the country, this is no time for officials to be resting on their laurels.
With long-standing Netball South Africa president Mimi Mthethwa being replaced by Cecilia Molokwane at the federation’s recent elections, a new beginning has been signalled.
Molokwane has already made it clear she brings with her fresh ideas and will be making changes, but her new executive will need to maintain some consistency while attempting to garner more public interest and support.
By appointing Elsje Jordaan as the new Proteas head coach, NSA has shown faith in the lessons former coach Plummer has offered the nation’s top netball mentors.
The federation made a wise choice to retain the services of Plummer as a coaching consultant after giving Jordaan the reins, as she has plenty more to offer from
Wesley Bo on
a backseat post.
Nonetheless, for all the progress the federation has made, they still have some way to go to change the image and performance levels of the national team.
The Proteas remain stranded in fifth place in the world rankings, and despite putting up stronger fights and picking up occasional victories against their fancied opponents, they still have a long way to go to close the gap.
Having secured top spot in the African rankings, after leapfrogging perennial rivals Malawi, the Proteas have been threatening for some time to catch fourth-ranked Jamaica, but so far they remain out of touch.
There is no doubt that they have improved significantly since Plummer took charge, but they need to continue climbing their upward curve if they are to get any better.
While it was played in a shorter format, the recent Fast5 Netball World Series again proved the SA team are lacking in certain areas, and they will need to clean things up on court if they are to consistently challenge the world’s top teams.
All four nations ranked above the Proteas boast professional leagues, which offer opportunities for players to make careers of the sport at home, while most of the SA team are stuck in largely amateur set-ups.
The players who have had the opportunity to compete in topflight leagues overseas have gained valuable experience which has boosted the Proteas’ performances, and if NSA can expand the domestic league into a fully professional competition, it will go a long way in providing the Proteas with the fitness and skills levels needed to compete for global trophies.
Netball has followed a steady path of progress in the last few years, and if the national federation can add a few more rungs to the ladder they’ve been climbing, the Proteas could eventually reach the heights for which they are aiming.
Until then, the new people in charge need to juggle fresh ideas while retaining some stability, and should they find the right balance, their goals are certainly within reach.