Residents ramp up support for SPAR Proteas at Netball World Cup
The highly anticipated tournament is taking place on African soil for the first time ever and ends on Sunday, August 6 at the Cape Town International Convention Centre.
THERE was a real sense of excitement and Ubuntu last week as learners and staff at Our Lady of Fatima Dominican Convent School dressed up in the national colours to show support for the SPAR Proteas at this year’s Netball World Cup.
The highly anticipated tournament is taking place on African soil for the first time ever and ends on Sunday, August 6 at the Cape Town International Convention Centre.
The South African team were grouped with Wales, Sri Lanka and Jamaica in Pool C and won two out of their three pool games.
Educator and head of netball at the school, Nana Khomo, said the girls also sang Shosholoza before the Proteas first game against Wales.
Khomo, who represented the baby Proteas at an U21 level, and had played for Kingdom Stars in the Telkom Netball League up until last year, said she is excited to see the Proteas lift the trophy.
Also read: Netball fever sweeps across SA as world cup starts
“I’m friends with the captain Bongi Msomi, and seeing the photos she’s shared so far, leading up to and of the games so far, I just had goosebumps. It’s exciting for the country, and to have two national women’s teams competing in two different World Cups during Women’s Month is just incredible. I encourage everyone to don their green-and-gold outfits and use our voices to lift the team to the final and to the trophy,” she said.
For captain and vice-captain of the school netball team, Manaal Omar and Isabella Da Costa, the tournament is also a way to inspire younger generations and raise the profile of women’s netball.
“My netball journey started in Grade One, and I’ve played all the way up to my matric year. I’ve always enjoyed the sport but especially the bonds you build with your friends. I have represented South Africa for swimming at the Region 5 Youth Games in Malawi, so I can only imagine the pride and honour the team feels through the tournament. The fact they are playing on home soil is also fantastic. The whole vibe right now reminds me of the 2010 Football World Cup,” she said.
Her words were echoed by fellow learner Da Costa.
“My family all enjoy netball, and we’ve watched all the games so far together. My little sister, who is at Chelsea Preparatory School, is actually in Cape Town at the moment and had the opportunity to watch one of the games. That to me really brings home what this tournament is all about. Those players are all inspiring young players from all over the country to keep working hard and to dream big. It is also a huge boost for netball as this tournament raises the profile of the sport,” she said.
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