Elize Kotze praises standard of play at SPAR national champs

“It has been a fantastic tournament and I was very pleased to see the performance of senior players and also to see how many young players are coming through,” Kotze said.

She said there were 11 months left before the world championships in Sydney next year, and the squad announced after the tournament gave her plenty to work with as she prepared for the next major challenge.

“Several former Proteas, like Amanda Mynhardt, Vanes-Mari du Toit and Lindie Lombard, who didn’t go to the Commonwealth Games for various reasons, showed that they are still hungry to play for the Proteas, and I am delighted that they are back in the squad.

“Amanda and Vanes-Mari worked brilliantly together in the final to control Chante Steyn, who is a solid presence in the circle, and I can see them doing that against a team like Jamaica, who play a very physical form of netball.”

Kotze said she wanted to take the 12 best players in South Africa to the World Cup, and there was plenty of depth in all positions, so she had room to mix and match.

“When we go to Sydney, I need to know that the players on the bench are as strong as the seven players on the court,” she said.

She had special praise for some of the younger players, such as Kifiloe Tsotetsi, the goalkeeper from Kenneth Kaunda, 19-year-old Lenize Potgieter, the Gauteng North goalshooter, and the two young Gauteng North centre court players, Faith Mantjiu and Tshina Mdau.

“They are all very exciting players, and they are definitely stars of the future,” said Kotze.

The 31-member squad announced after the tournament will attend several training camps over the next few months, before being reduced to a squad of 15 next year.

National squad: Mari-Lena Joubert, Juline Rossouw, Sashe-Lee Petersen (Boland), Nosi Goda (Buffalo City), Elsje du Plessis, Bhongeletu Ngubeni, Lensa Motau, Zandre Kruger, Kifiloe Tsotetsi, Nadia Uys, Chante Steyn (Dr Kenneth Kaunda), Lenize Potgieter, Melissa Myburgh, Lindie Lombard, Faith Mantjiu, Erin Burger, Shadine van der Merwe, Amanda Mynhardt, Vanes-Mari du Toit, Tshina Mdau (Gauteng North), Lauren-Lee Christians, Karla Mostert, Adele Niemand, Maryke Holtzhausen, (Mangaung Metro), Zanele Vimbela, Zanele Mdodana (Nelson Mandela Bay), Bongiwe Msomi, Precious Mthembu (Umgungundlovu), Rochelle Lawson, Phumza Maweni (Western Province), Thuli Qegu (Ekurhuleni).

– Sapa