The 2022 North West Flames netball ladies are ready to burn bright this season in the Telkom Netball League (TNL).
The new team, which will feature Didintle Keebine as captain and Elsunet du Plessis as coach, was unveiled during a launch event at the Feather Hill Estate in Potchefstroom on Friday, 22 April.
Keebine read the NW Flames’ code of honour and together with players in the leaderships, Nicolene van Heerden and Lucy Strydom lit the ceremonial flames as a signal of intent for the season ahead.
Photos: Wouter Pienaar
The launch also promoted the Netball Friday – an initiative where netball will be celebrated across South Africa to build hype for the upcoming 2023 Netball World Cup that will take place in Cape Town.
Netball fever was at a new level during this launch as the NW Flames ladies and management staff receive their blazers ahead of the TNL. The roadshow also continued to Ikageng Stadium and Jouberton to bring netball to all corners of the Dr. Kenneth Kaunda District.
The president of Netball South Africa, Cecilia Molokwane, the CEO of Netball SA, Blanche de la Guerre, as well as the North West MEC for Arts, Culture, Sport and Recreation, Ms. Galebekwe Tlhapi, were just some of the dignitaries at this launch.
“As government we will give you the necessary support. We must make sure that we develop high performance netball players and identify talent especially in rural areas. Netball must grow in the province,” stated Thlapi.
The NW netball president, Helene Botha, emphasised that Netball Friday is a fantastic initiative in growing the sport.
“This will take netball forward and the message is clear that netball is here to stay,” she added.
“We are proud to host the Netball World Cup on African shores for the first time next year. We want the entire country to rally behind our netball girls. Today, we are with the NW Flames and its all about taking netball back to the people of North West and to encourage and develop a love for netball,” stated SA netball president, Cecilia Molokwane.
The NW Flames team are as follows:
Players: Didintle Keebine (captain), Nicolene van Heerden, Kgomotso Itlhabanyeng, Lucy Strydom, Elmeré van der Berg, Sunel Smit, Danielle Malan, Tlotlang Mokomela, Kailah Ferreira, Michelle Geduld, Kekeletso Molotsi, Chelize Swart, Martiné Jordaan, Jomari Lubbe and Favour Umeh.
Management: Elsunet du Plessis (head coach), Vivian Foko (Assistant coach), Kutlwano Moroole (team management), Megan Gebhardt (statistician), Colin Powell (Covid compliance officer).
