Big disappointment for Pretoria’s champion team at national netball championship
Tshwane's forced withdrawal from the SA Netball Championship is a huge setback for local netball in Pretoria and a disappointment for the players and management team, who will now not get the chance to defend their title as reigning champions.
The defending champions, Tshwane, have pulled out of the SPAR National Netball Championships which started in Cape Town on Monday, because members of the team have tested positive for the Covid-19 virus.
Tshwane has held the title for the past five years.
Gauteng netball President Riana Bezuidenhout said two players tested positive on Friday November 26.
“As a result, Tshwane Senior A and u.21 players and management underwent Covid tests on Monday November 29. Although the tests were negative, players from the senior A team started displaying symptoms of the Covid-19 Omicron variant on Thursday December 2,” said Bezuidenhout.
“The Tshwane executive informed Gauteng Netball that it had decided to withdraw from the tournament for fear of compromising the event and for the safety of individuals. Players and management were advised to isolate and to monitor for further symptoms,” Bezuidenhout remarked.
It is the first time that Tshwane is not able to defend its title, but the organizers made it clear that the safety of all players and management will not be compromised in any circumstances.
No players in the u.21 team have been affected and they will defend their title.
Netball South Africa (NSA) President Cecilia Molokwane said Tshwane should be congratulated for their decision, taken in the interests of netball and of the tournament.
She said NSA had not contemplated cancelling the tournament after the announcement of the new Omicron variant.
“That’s up to the Government, but for now the tournament will be played under strict Covid-19 protocols and we will be taking extraordinary precautions in the interests of the safety of all players and management,” Molokwane explained.
Tshwane Under-21 coach Rozanne Matthyse said her team would be doing their best to defend their title.
“If we lose, it will be because of Tshwane, not because anyone is better than we are,” Matthyse commented.
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