Netball coach pleads for high-level netball league
The Proteas coach believes a well-managed top professional netball league should be established in South Africa to get local players to the standard of the world's top three teams.
SPAR Proteas netball coach Norma Plummer has once again pleaded for the introduction of a topline professional league to enable the Proteas to compete against the top teams.
Speaking ahead of a tough weekend for the Proteas, who will be taking on two of the world’s top netball teams when they play England and New Zealand in the SANZEA Quad Series in Liverpool.
England are the reigning Commonwealth Games Champions and New Zealand are the World Cup silver medallists.
Last weekend, the Proteas played against the Australian Diamonds and got off to a brilliant start, leading the Diamonds by five goals at the end of the first quarter and forcing coach Liza Alexander to make a number of changes. However, the experience of the world champions helped the Diamonds to come back and to beat the Proteas 62-45.
“I think we played reasonably well against Australia, particularly in the first half, where we took it right up to them. However, what has to be understood is that Australia have a fulltime daily training environment. South Africa don’t have this. I have just five days to get them together, while the Australians have camp after camp with their team together,” said Proteas coach Norma Plummer.
She emphasized that top players in Australia play in a fulltime professional national league. The players are professional athletes who do not have to work. Australia are the world champions and South Africa are ranked fifth.
“England and New Zealand are like Australia, with their competitions. They have 14 round, plus finals, while South Africa doesn’t have a national league to that standard. It really has to come if they are to compete,” said Plummer.
Several South African players, including captain Bongiwe Msomi, goal defence Karla Pretorius and goalshooter Lenize Potgieter, have gained invaluable experience playing in the Australian, New Zealand and England leagues and efforts are being made to get more South African players into those leagues.
The Proteas play the England Roses on Saturday, after the match between perennial rivals, the Diamonds and the New Zealand Silver Ferns.
On Sunday, the Proteas play the Silver Ferns after which the Roses take on the Diamonds.
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