Proteas need more time together ahead of Netball World Cup

The Proteas have done well to raise the bar in recent years, finally cementing their place as the top-ranked team in Africa, but if South Africa is going to take full advantage of hosting the 2023 Netball World Cup, the national team really needs one crucial thing: the gift of time.

Head coach Dorette Badenhorst is doing what she can with what she has, using limited time with the squad to build the strongest team she can ahead of the global showpiece, but it must be a frustrating process.

While the SA team do convene on occasion, it’s not enough, and they are going to need to spend more time together.

Netball remains an amateur sport in SA, which has made it difficult for the Proteas to compete against Australia, England and New Zealand, who have the privilege of being in full-time professional setups.

And though some SA players do compete on the professional circuits in those countries, the reality is that our national team remain limited in terms of how much time they spend together, and most of the players get very little time on court at the highest level of the game.

The squad consists mostly of students and individuals with full-time jobs, which is a major issue because getting time off for training camps and tournaments can be a strain on the players.

But they will need to work regularly with Badenhorst and her coaching team over the next 18 months, otherwise the Proteas are unlikely to break the nation’s lengthy medal drought.

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With their opponents preparing in professional environments, the hosts have to find a way to ensure there are regular camps and sufficient opportunities to sharpen up against quality opposition, even if it means splitting the squad into smaller groups for logistical purposes.

There is no doubt the players have the talent, the commitment and the ability, and there were glimpses of their potential in the recent Netball Quad Series in London, but they were again outplayed by the world’s top three teams and the gap is bigger than we might want to admit.

If there is no change to the current situation, the Proteas aren’t going to have much of a chance of stepping on the podium at their home World Cup.

But if they are given enough time to work together as a squad, they could be in with a shout for a memorable medal, which would be invaluable in raising the profile of the sport.