By Emma Giles
Maties netball players Zahrah Noah, Renezia Andrews and Lisa Ingwersen were selected for the Baby Proteas squad that played in the Netball World Youth Cup (NWYC) from 19 to 28 September in Gibraltar. The NWYC includes the top u. 21 players from 20 regions around the world and takes place once every four years.
The team made history after qualifying for the semi-finals and finishing with a fourth place result. This is the first time a u. 21 South African team has qualified to play the quarter-finals in a NWYC.
Noah, first-year BA (Humanities) student and GK/GD/WD for the Baby Proteas, explained that they underwent a “rigorous two year selection process” with “many training camps and tournaments”. The final squad of 15 was announced in August, with Noah being part of the playing 12 and Andrews and Ingwersen as travelling reserves. Andrews was subsequently pulled up into the playing squad following an injury of another player.
Earlier this year, the squad participated in the Telkom Netball League (TNL), the South African provincial league, as part of the trial process. Andrews and Noah both spoke fondly of the competition at TNL. However, they also felt that the NWYC was definitely of a higher standard, especially when playing the top teams such as Australia. Noah also praised Maties Netball who “constantly motivate and provide [her] with the necessary skills needed to perform at a world class level”. Andrews shared a similar sentiment, saying, “[N]othing could have prepared us better […] [than] Maties did.”
Despite the thrill of representing their country abroad, the players still had to navigate academic hurdles. Andrews, third-year BCom (Financial Management) student and WA/GA for the Baby Proteas, explained how she missed an A1 while in Gibraltar and said that “[SU] did not accommodate [her] at all and said [she] had to write the A3”. She felt this was unfair given they were playing a World Cup. She also explained that she wasn’t given any extensions for online assignments. On the other hand, Noah felt that “SU [was] very supportive and provide[d] extra opportunities for compulsory assignments and options to have meetings where [she could] gather work that was missed”.
According to the World Netball website, “the SPAR Baby Proteas act as a pathway to the senior SPAR Proteas team.” Many senior players such as Kamogelo Maseko and Khanyisa Chawane have progressed into the professional team from the Baby Proteas. Following the end of this simultaneously challenging and exciting experience, Noah and Andrews both feel inspired to enter a professional netball career in the future.
