Kotze upbeat despite disappointment in Glasgow

Speaking on the opening day of the Spar National Championships in Cape Town on Monday, Kotze said her goal had been to reach the semi-finals of the Commonwealth Games.

“We were playing the best netball teams in the world, and we believed we could challenge for a medal,” she said.

“I still believe we can do it at the world championships next year. We have beaten England and Jamaica in the past, and I am very positive we can do it again.

“We will have to plan very carefully between now and the world championships and make sure that we have the right players, the right mental attitude and the physicality to compete with the top teams.”

Kotze said the team had learned a great deal from the experience and would have a better idea of how to tackle the top teams in Sydney.

“We will select a squad of 25 players to prepare for Sydney, and this will be reduced to 15 early next year. Ideally, I would like them to be compensated for the loss of income so that I can work with them fulltime for two months before the world championships so we develop new tactics and work out how to counter the top teams.

“We also need to play against at least two of the top four countries before we go to Sydney, to hone our skills. If we are to compete against professionals, we need to become professional as well.”

Five members of the team that went to Glasgow have been forced to miss the National Championships because they have no more leave due to them from their employers. Kotze said she would ask Netball SA to compromise on its ruling that players should take part in the national champs to be eligible for national selection.

“Those five players are among our very best, and we need them to be part of the squad,” she said.

The five players are Maryke Holtzhausen, Adele Niemand, Karla Mostert, Zanele Mdodana and Chrisna van Zyl.

Kotze said the selectors would be on the lookout for rising stars.

“There is always room for new talent in the team,” she said.

– Sapa