Imbali players once in a lifetime Jamaica experience
Goal-shooter Lutendo "Totti" Maiwashe scooped the best-shooter award in Jamaica while representing South Africa's outdoor men's team.
Willy Mtshali and Lutendo ‘Totti’ Maiwashe represented the South African men’s outdoor netball team in Jamaica from 1-4 September, and proved to be a force to be reckoned with in the competition.
The two men are players for Midrand’s Imbali indoor netball team with Mtshali’s in the position of centre and Maiwashe a goal-shooter.
The national team brought home silver, after losing to competition hosts Jamaica in the inaugural championship test series.
The test series was in a round-robin format and the South African team placed second after losing just one game to their hosts.
Other teams included Antigua and Barbuda, Grenada, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.
Team vice-captain, Mtshali, said he learned a lot during the five-day competition.
“The games were highly competitive and I am happy with the experience I gained. I think playing against other teams who had supporters present countered against us mentally. The hot weather also affected our performance slightly,” said Mtshali.
He said some international rules applied by umpires where tricky for them and that’s how they lost to Jamaica.
Maiwashe received the best shooter award in the series and shared the same sentiments as his vice-captain when it came to the weather conditions.
Speaking of his experience, Maiwashe said he learnt a lot, including working on his mental game in order to achieve positive results.
“Losing the game against Jamaica was, for me, more of a mind game than just being on the court physically.”
Maiwashe reflected on the team’s physical preparedness not being matched by their minds.
“We were physically prepared but our mental strength was not there and that’s how we lost the game against Jamaica.”
His best shooter award was also an unexpected surprise. “I was not expecting it, because I felt like I did not do enough,” said Maiwashe.
He’s happy and appreciates the award which will serve as a reminder for him to always do better in every game he plays.
Related article:
https://www.citizen.co.za/midrand-reporter/308984/midrand-royals-clinch-first-place
