SPAR Proteas under new coach

Netball South Africa (NSA) announced on Wednesday that Norma Plummer, who coached Australia to victory in the 2011 Netball World Cup in Singapore, has officially been appointed head coach of the SPAR Proteas for the World Cup in Sydney, in August.

NSA president Mimi Mthethwa said the International Netball Federation and World Cup Committee had approved the appointment, and Plummer would take over with immediate effect.

Bennie Saayman would be her assistant coach, and Plummer’s assistant in Singapore, Nicole Cusack, had been appointed as the second assistant coach specialising in the shooting area.

The former assistant coach, Martha Mosoahle-Samm, had withdrawn from the coaching panel because of family commitments, said Mthethwa.

Elsje Jordaan would remain part of the team as the analyst, Dr Shyrelle Calder the EyeGym consultant, Tumelo Komane the team physiotherapist, Ilze Pheiffer the sports scientist and Nisha Rupnarain team manager.

NSA executive member Blanche de la Guerre said Plummer had been brought in to provide a fresh approach to coaching.

“We have been working with Norma since 2011, and she came here in February to conduct a training camp. The players were excited by her different approach and we realised how much they would benefit from the experience of someone with a proven track record. We couldn’t appoint her then because she was working with the England team,” she said.

Earlier, it was reported that Plummer would act as a mentor to the official coaching staff.

Plummer said she was delighted to take over as coach of the Proteas. “There is so much talent in the team, and the girls are very hungry for success,” she said.

Plummer is also the head coach for the four nations Diamond Challenge, which is currently taking place in Margate.

“We will travel to New Zealand next month to play two tests against the Silver Ferns. It is important for the players to have the experience of playing against one of the world’s top teams before they head into the World Cup, and regardless of the outcome of those tests, they will benefit,” she said.

Mthethwa said NSA would have the freedom to select the World Cup team purely on merit.

“Players will be picked on performance, not on their colour,” she said. “But NSA is very proud of the fact that, in the match against Zambia, there were five black players on court at one time. This proves our transformation process is working.”

In the meantime, SPAR Proteas celebrated the official appointment of Plummer as their head coach with a decisive 43-33 win over their arch rivals, Malawi, in the KwaZulu-Natal Diamond Challenge at the Ugu Sports Centre in Gamalakhe on Wednesday.

World Cup trials will be conducted on Saturday, after the Diamond Challenge, with several other players, including the 2011 World Cup Player of the Tournament, Erin Burger, joining the Diamond Challenge squad.