Netball Proteas all kitted out and raring to go for World Cup

Netball Proteas assistant coach Dumisani Chauke is pleased with the progress the players are making at their training camp in Stellenbosch as they step up preparations for the 2023 World Cup.

In January the Proteas took part in the Quad Series against Australia, New Zealand and England in Cape Town and Chauke said this camp is another key component of their preparations.

“Our camp has been great, the girls have been here since the beginning of March. Our official two-week training camp started on Monday and runs to February 18; we are replicating the [length of the] World Cup, which is about two weeks.

“The girls are working hard in the gym with the strength and conditioning coach, they are getting strong so that by the time we get them on court they are able to take the pressure and their bodies are able to perform to whatever we want them to do.”

Chauke said she enjoys working with the Proteas' Australian coach Norma Plummer, who returned to the team in November.

“She comes with a lot of confidence and experience and that has rubbed off on the girls who believe more in themselves. They know and understand what it takes, not only to participate, but to perform and compete on the world stage.

“That is where the focus is — the PUMA slogan is that we are united warriors and warriors are people who are going into battle and battle is what we are trying to get the girls to do.

“Pressure is a privilege — as a sportsperson, if there is no pressure you haven’t performed. Pressure pushes you to get out of your comfort zone and we thrive under pressure.

“Sometimes it can be overwhelming, but our girls have performed on such stages before. They were able to take the pressure. Every time we meet we take it up a notch and that is what is going to happen at the World Cup in front of a home crowd.”

PUMA and Netball South Africa (NSA) on Wednesday unveiled the United Warriors' kit for the 2023 season, including the Netball World Cup in Cape Town in July.

“We launched the home and away kits on International Women’s Day to honour women across the world and to celebrate the Women’s World Cup coming to South Africa,” PUMA South Africa marketing director Brett Bellinger said.

“The kit features the latest technical fabric used by PUMA performance teams and the design is inspired by African art and our country’s symbols.”

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