The role of captain in any team sport is a momentous honour, rightfully, as this is a significant role. It goes beyond donning the cool-looking captain’s armband like in football for example. Once again a cliché proving to us why it is, this great honour comes with great responsibility.
A captain must be accountable after a bad performance or practice. Captains are expected to perform and lead the team to victory and it is also expected that captains will maintain control in the most pressurized situations and be a model of excellence for their teammates.
These character traits are not too dissimilar to the required character traits of any captain in any team, even off the field. It isn’t for the faint of heart, it isn’t for the thin-skinned but it also isn’t always necessarily for the loudest, tallest person in the room. Captains of sports teams are given the stereotype that they are the most athletic player on the team, scoring the most goals and handling the ball best. In truth, captains have a lot of work they have to do that doesn’t even involve playing the sport.
Captains are the most looked at player of the game; other players, younger kids and coaches look to them to set examples. They have to set examples in every aspect of the game; athleticism might be part of their job but it is not limited to it. The captain of any sports team must set the leadership standard for commitment, confidence, intelligence, and attitude. Experience, composure and embodying as many qualities of textbook leadership as possible, are some of the key qualities of a great captain.
This job is high-pressure; from high school level all the way to some random friendly match against another side or nation, what more when you’re carrying the hopes of a nation in a tournament the World Cup. The pressure that Bongiwe Msomi traversed, Refiloe Jane to name but a few, that surely is a superhuman level of nerve and leadership.
2023 is a special year for women in sport and extra special for our respective captains. It is certainly also worth mentioning that it is a significant one for the country as well, as we are hosting 4 tournaments, not just any tournaments, but World Cup Tournaments. It is the 2023 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, The 2023 Netball World Cup, The 2023 World Table Tennis Championships and 2023 Women’s Hockey World Cup. Truly indicative of our nation’s zeal for sport.
Suné Luus is leading the charges from the 10th of February at The 2023 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup right here on our shores and later in the year Bongiwe Msomi will be leading her squad in Cape Town as we host the 2023 Netball World Cup, kicking off on July 28.
The pressure is as immense as all possible gains but what is key here is to keep composed and trust the various processes: coaching, experience, tactics and even heart.
This is one of those positions that any new captain will ask for “the secret”. There is none as we understand, it is normal human endeavour, undertaken by a normal human being who understands that we can always access the extraordinary. A true inspiration for all us in our various endeavours.
May our captains successfully lead our various teams this year with our informed support. Understanding that they’re human and that they want the best for the team and for the country.
We are behind our teams in these impending tournaments as we give a very specific nod to our captains too.
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