POLOKWANE – The MEC for Sport, Onicca Moloi, in collaboration with the Limpopo Netball Association, announced the Limpopo Baobabs netball team and wished them luck ahead of the upcoming Brutal Fruit Netball Premier League.
The launch was held at Vuwa Lodge on Wednesday, 2 May and the Director of Sport Development, Junior Ramusi, did the welcoming.
Head of Department, Mortimer Mannya, was first to take to the podium as he greeted guests and said the department was pledging its support to the team. “We as government are fully behind you as we want to see you bring medals home,” he said. Former Baobabs head coach and Netball South Africa (NSA) President, Cecelia Molokwane, wished everyone well.
“I don’t like writing down my thoughts, so I’ll just speak from the heart. The Baobabs are my family and they’ve always been my family. This is your opportunity as players to give it your all. You’ll be given that stage on Friday, 11 May in Ellis Park for a week, and you’ll spend four weeks in Pretoria for another match. This is your chance to give it your all as the Limpopo team to make not only our province, but South Africa proud. ”
“One thing I’ve realised in netball is that the crowd can make you win the game as their cheerful spirit will encourage you to give your best. I believe in you and I believe you’ve got the potential to bring medals home,” she said.
“A team is all about commitment and sacrifices. You choose friends, the kind of friends you choose will determine where you’re going, I’ve seen teams around the country play and you match the standard. When I played netball I didn’t have the incentives you have today with government paying most of your expenses. “This is a tremendous opportunity, the ball is now in your court. Fly the Limpopo flag high; the girls finished eighth last year, let’s do even better this year.”
Onicca told the team coming from a rural province shouldn’t be seen as a disadvantage.
“A baobab tree is a tree that resembles strength which is why our provincial netball team is named after the tree. When you are on the court, you must remember you are a baobab tree. I’ll come to the opening ceremony as well as the semi-finals and I want to see you there,” she said.