Proteas captain wants her team to perform at the highest level

Cape Town - Proteas captain, Bongiwe Msomi, believes her team will step into the court to compete and improve on their recent form in the imminent international netball season. 

Speaking on Thursday following the announcement of the team that will be representing the country in the Quad Series to be co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand next month, Msomi said they have recently stepped up to challenge netball powerhouses and they want improve on their game even more. 

“We want to step onto the court to compete and perform at the highest level this season.  We have seen some improvements recently, especially when playing one of the big netball countries like England, Australia and New Zealand.  They all see us as competition now and thanks to Coach Norma (Plummer) and Nicole (Cusack, assistant coach) who have been doing an amazing job in helping us as a team to be at our best. 

Msomi will be captaining the 12-member squad which was announced by Plummer on Thursday for the Quad Series and a two-test series against Fiji. Msomi believes she will be leading a capable team which features other players who have gained international experience who will help the newcomers to the squad.

“Netball is more or less the same everywhere, but after our different international campaigns for some of us, it is time to come back and share some of the experience we got from playing in England, some in Australia and New Zealand.  It’s was an amazing experience (playing in the English Super League and winning the title with Wasps and getting the Player of the Match accolade in the final), people appreciated the work we did on and off the field. And I hope more and more South Africans get to play in these tournaments like this,” said Msomi. 

Msomi also praised the two new call-ups- Danelle Lochner and Ina-Marie Venter- in her team, saying they both have been amazing to watch and play along in the camp.  “Ina-Marie is amazing and I think she’s a great addition in the squad and we also saw Danelle playing the World Youth Champs (in Gaborone this month).  It’s been great at the camp and everyone wants to be challenged and we are growing with every camp,” she said. 

Proteas Netball Team: Bongiwe Msomi (captain), Karla Mostert (vice-captain), Erin Burger, Maryka Holtzhausen, Danelle Lochner, Rochelle Loubser, Phumza Maweni, Precious Mthembu, Nadia Uys Pienaar, Lenize Potgieter, Ina-Marie Venter and Zanele Vimbela.