ICYMI: Fourways netball is back in action
FOURWAYS – Action netball players are welcomed back at the Fourways Action Sports Arena since Lockdown Level 5.
Social and premier league action netball players were elated at the news that they would be able to return to the Fourways Action Sports Arena.
They have not been to the arena since March just before the nationwide lockdown started. The exciting news came from Netball South Africa and saw more than 20 social teams return on the warm evening of 28 September.
Upon entrance, the arena’s full-time paramedic and Covid-19 officer checked everyone’s temperature and took down their contact details. There were also sanitising stands placed all around the arena.
Directors of the sports arena, Samantha de Wit and Matthew Meintjes said they felt mixed emotions upon teams returning to the arena.
“Cricket came back on the 8th of September, a little bit earlier than the netball. But we felt incredibly anxious when we got the netball to come back. We’ve had about 80 per cent of the cricketers come back since they feel safe with all we’ve put in place,” Meintjes said.
De Wit said there were about 79 social netball teams and 17 super-league sides before lockdown. Since being given the green light, some regulations have been put in place at the arena. Of the four available courts, only three can be in use and match balls must be sanitised between each match half.
Women’s and mixed social sides took to the courts at the early evening slot of 6.30pm. The women’s match between Whatever and Wine Not started with the former dominating, and ending the first half with the score reading 17–5. The final result saw Whatever winning 41–9.
The winning team’s centre, Stephanie Wohlter was pleased with her team’s performance and said it was really great to be back on the courts. Another close match that took place was between mixed teams Jaguars and Invites. Going into half-time 8–6 to the Invites, the Jaguars came back in the second half with full force thanks to the team’s quick passes, and shooters Danté de Wit and Sazkia Hall taking advantage of chances to score. The Jaguars ran out 22–17 winners.
Meintjes and De Wit concluded by saying that Fourways was a home for most since many top players played Super League and provincial games at the arena. “It’s like a support ground for the important parts of the players’ careers,” Meintjes said.
Details: Contact Bianca Meintjies for more information bianca@fourwaysfalcons.co.za.
