Netball popularity excites locals
Van der Merwe is pleased by the increased popularity of netball.
There has been a steady growth in the popularity of netball in South Africa in recent years and this trend has been evident in Brakpan.
The emergence of clubs such as Netball Freaks and Brakpan Netball Club has seen tournaments where almost 30 teams are hosted become a regular thing locally.
“It’s a lot of hard work organising a tournament,?” said Netball Freaks’ Angelique van der Merwe.
Van der Merwe is a long-time lover of the sport she started playing in her primary school days.
As a youngster she had KwaZulu-Natal colours for netball.
Now based in Brakpan, she still has an appetite for the game.
“I stopped for 10 years but I decided to get back for the fitness,” she said.
“It wasn’t easy starting again. It felt like starting from the bottom. But you feel better as you get fit.
“Now that there are kids in the house, it’s great for them to see you being active as well.
“It’s also a great way to motivate people around you.”
Van der Merwe is pleased by the increased popularity of netball.
“You never used to hear about netball. It was always cricket, soccer and rugby. But now netball is getting noticed which is great,” she said.
There has not been much action on the netball courts since the national lockdown was declared by the South African government as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.
“We are looking forward to the end of the lockdown,” said van der Merwe.
So how do the players keep busy during the lockdown?
Read: Netball action impresses
“Our coach Elzabe Gertenbach sends us fitness videos and gives us challenges where we have to post videos of ourselves completing these challenges,” said van der Merwe.
“She’s an awesome coach, very old-school. She has been with us since last September.”
The lockdown has meant that tournaments which the club were planning to host have been cancelled.
Most notably was an event due to take place this weekend to raise funds for the SPCA.
“We are planning another tournament in December, hopefully the lockdown will be over then as we will be raising funds for the elderly,” said van der Merwe.
The local player is hoping that the authorities will allow her and her teammates to practice soon.
“We would practice social distancing and make sure that we sanitise the ball and our hands,” she said.
The player also had advice for those looking to take up a new sport.
“You are never too old to play sport. You can get started and learn as you go along,” she added.
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