Africa has not really been a top contender at the Netball World Cup for some time, but former Proteas midcourt star Precious Mthembu believes the continent has made great strides in the sport and backs African nations to shine on home soil this year.
The 2023 edition gets under way in Cape Town on Friday, where 16 nations will take part. This will be the first time that the tournament is hosted in Africa. Genuine favourites for top honours are 11-time winners Australia and defending champions New Zealand, while England and Jamaica are dark horses.
The Netball Proteas open their campaign against Wales at Cape Town International Convention Centre (6pm). The continent has four teams taking part in this World Cup with Uganda, Malawi and Zimbabwe having qualified, but the hopes of a medal for the continent have been pinned on South Africa.
Besides the Proteas being the top-ranked African national team, they are the only side from the continent to have been on a World Cup podium. They reached the semifinals and finished fourth at Liverpool 2019. In the five previous World Cups from 1999 to 2015 they placed fifth four times and sixth the other. South Africa’s one podium finish came in 1995, when they finished as runners-up to Australia, while they also finished third in 1967. Another top performance by an African side was when Malawi finished fifth in the 2007 World Cup.
Mthembu, who represented the Proteas at three World Cups, her last in 2015, admitted Australia, New Zealand and England are still steps ahead as netball powerhouses, but said African countries have not been standing still. She pointed out they have produced players that ply their trade in top leagues.
“I’ve seen how African countries have been doing exceptionally well,” Mthembu told TimesLIVE Premium. “There are few players from Uganda and Zimbabwe playing in the Vitality [Netball Super] League in England.
“They have helped to take the standard of netball in their countries to a higher level. You can’t underestimate countries from Africa because they are competing now.”
Uganda She-Cranes’ Mary Nuba Cholhok turns out in England’s Netball Super League, Malawi’s Joyce Mvula spent six years playing for Manchester Thunder in England, while Laureen Ngwira also turned out for the same team. Malawi’s Caroline Mtukule is contracted to Bath in England, while Mwai Kumwenda is based in Australia. Zimbabwe, who will make their second appearance in the World Cup after their debut in 2019, have Felistas Kwangwa of Surrey Storm as their foreign-based player.
Coach Norma strongly believes in the development of players and that is what I have seen in the team she selected. It’s got young blood and there are senior players who have been there for a while such as Bongiwe [Msomi, SA’s captain], Phumza [Maweni] and others who have played on the highest level.
— Precious Mthembu
The Proteas have been given a mandate by Netball SA to get on the podium on home soil. Mthembu, who is juggling her job as a teacher in KwaZulu-Natal and being a netball coach, believes the hosts have a strong, well-balanced team to carry out the mission. She is pleased with how coach Norma Plummer mixed her final squad for the tournament.
“Coach Norma strongly believes in the development of players and that is what I have seen in the team she selected. It’s got young blood and there are senior players who have been there for a while such as Bongiwe [Msomi, SA’s captain], Phumza [Maweni] and others who have played on the highest level.
“And the new players coming up have done so well in the Telkom Netball League. I think the team is balanced and I believe the future of netball in South Africa looks bright. If you look over the years, there has been something good happening in SA netball.”
The former midcourt star was coached by Plummer in the build-up to the 2019 World Cup but was ruled out through injury ahead of the event. Mthembu played for 97 times for the Proteas over 15 years before calling time on her career in May last year.
As an assistant coach of the Baby Proteas, Mthembu has worked with Elmere van der Berg and Nicola Smith, who are in Plummer’s squad for the tournament, and Refiloe Nketsa, who is among the reserves. She advises the Protea stars, despite NSA’s target, to not think too much about the podium — rather focus on the first game, and then each game after that.
“We have to take it game by game and know that every opponent is there to do their best. We have to continue where we left off in the previous World Cup. I believe in coach Norma, she knows how to prepare for these games and she always makes sure the combinations are perfect.”
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