Lim all set for national netball tourney
THE powers that be at Limpopo Netball Association (LNA) have wasted no time with setting the ball rolling in their preparation for the 2015 Netball South Africa's National Championships in Durban next month.
Moyahabo Mabeba
LIMPOPO – THE powers that be at Limpopo Netball Association (LNA) have wasted no time with setting the ball rolling in their preparation for the 2015 Netball South Africa’s National Championships in Durban next month.
With Limpopo netball’s reputation was battered and bruised following a dismal exhibition during the Brutal Fruit Premier Netball League (PNL), the province will need strength and firepower to make a good impression at the tournament.
Four of the provincial teams, two senior and two u/21 teams will travel to Durban for the national showpiece from August 22 to 29.
LNA has appointed four coaches to lead the four sides at the tournament: Cecilia Molokwane, Anna Ledwaba, Victor Seakamela and Joseph Nkuna.
Provincial head coach, Molokwane, originally in charge of the Baobabs during their campaign in the Brutal Fruit NPL, has retained the bulk of the original squad notwithstanding the abysmal showing during the cutthroat league campaign.
Molokwane said: “I believe in continuity. The players I have selected in the senior A team are still fresh form national league and it makes perfect sense to retain them and use them as a unit”.
Molokwane’s squad features the tallest player in the province and possibly in the country, the 2,1m tall goal shooter, Rahab ‘Raba’ Ngobeni, who is expected to live up to the expectation of the coach to improve on the scoring rate of the team.
The commanding presence of the towering Amazon should inspire confidence and also provide the catalyst for comprehensive match-winning.
Also in the team is Baobabs captain, Hilda ‘Manglicious’ Muilwa, a 1,65m tall utility player who remains the vital cog around which the Limpopo netball machine rotates, performing the whole gamut of tricks at mid-court as a wing attack, wing defender and centre.
Above and beyond her impressive footwork, Muilwa distributes her aerial passes with remarkable flourish, knows how to attack and her breathtaking fielding is a force by itself.
Muilwa knows very well how demanding the premier league is, especially the fact that they have not fared very well since the inception of this flagship campaign.
The Limpopo team line-up is completed by other outstanding players, the likes of Kgothotso Mampuru, Vasta Ngobeni, Sylvia Lebelo, Shongile Hlongwane, Christina Mofomme, Nompumelelo Matekula, Grace Lechaba and Rosina Nkoana.
Explaining how they will turn the tables this time around, Molokwane said they would henceforth train harder as part of their preparations for the upcoming national tournament.
