Former Spar Proteas Netball captain and current University of Stellenbosch netball head coach, Zanele Mdodana, is confident that South Africa will do a spectacular job in hosting the 2023 Netball World Cup.
Most importantly, the 37-year-old says she is looking forward to see how the SA netball side – Spar Proteas – will perform in the much anticipated event.
South Africa was given the thumbs up to host the biggest netball affair in the world back in 2019, where it is set to take place from 28 to 6 August, at the International Covention Centre in Cape Town.
“In 2023, the biggest netball competition is coming to South Africa, in Cape Town,” Mdodana said.
“It’s the biggest event in the netball calendar because we don’t have Olympics, we have the Commonwealth Games and then the World Cup is thee event.
“So the best players in the world are coming here and our Spar Proteas team are the hosts.
“I think we will do a good job in hosting because we have done it with the 2010 FIFA World Cup.” – Former Spar Proteas Netball captain and current University of Stellenbosch netball head coach, Zanele Mdodana
“It’s un-imaginable to think that this is what is going to be happening because all the other years we have always travelled to other countries so now we are going to host the world.
“I think we will do a good job in hosting because we have done it with the 2010 FIFA World Cup. I am really looking forward to seeing how our girls are going to perform.”
The Maties coach said as the hosting nation it’s expected that all eyes will be on team SA.
Pressure is On
“Yes, the pressure is on us because we are the hosts,” says Mdodana.
“I think by now we should have started already that the force should be on building a squad and ultimately a team that is going to be competitive, because you don’t want to be the host nation and not even feature in the semi-finals, at least.
“Then ultimately contest a final. I mean who knows, it actually boils down to what happens on the day, but we have got to be in there to win it.
“I think we have got the players, it’s just a matter of putting up a structure and a programme that is going to focus on making sure that there are competitive against the best professional teams in the world.
“Because at the moment we are not a professional sporting code and we are competing against professional teams. So that is one of the challenges and you will find that our players are out of the country because they are playing for franchise teams overseas.
“But maybe a plan is in place from Netball South Africa’s side to insure that we can keep our players in house and afford them as much competition as possible building up to the World Cup.
“We are looking forward to welcoming the world and who knows what will happen, but we do have players like Karla Pretorius, who is the best player in the world.
“I mean you can’t ask for more than that, it’s just a matter of putting a programme that is going to enhance our team to ensure that they go all the way,” Mdodana concluded.
Photo 1 Caption: Former Spar Proteas Netball captain and current University of Stellenbosch netball head coach, Zanele Mdodana, is confident that South Africa will do a spectacular job in hosting the 2023 Netball World Cup. Photo: Zanele Mdodana (Instagram)
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