Britz ready to blast into Varsity Netball stratosphere

Rising star Anke Britz is ready to continue her netball education when she undertakes her first mission into the Varsity Netball stratosphere.

The 18-year-old Madibaz goal shooter knew that she would need to launch her game into outer space at the annual national competition for tertiary institutions starting in Johannesburg on Sunday.

Compared with her playing experiences as a learner back in her hometown of Despatch, 2024 has already been a world apart.

“The intensity at university level is on a completely different scale. It requires much more training and effort to maintain top performances,” Britz acknowledged.

“In the varsity environment there’s always someone better and ready to challenge you, which pushes you.”

One of the key takeaways for the Mandela University business student had been that there was always room for improvement.

“One I’ve learnt while playing for Madibaz is that you never truly know everything. The moment you think you do, you quickly realise that there’s more to learn – especially from your teammates.”

As a result, her game has been sent into orbit.

“I’m now much more confident, having learnt to trust both my own skills and [those of] my teammates.”

Having also represented Eastern Cape Comets in the Telkom National League and the Nelson Mandela Bay U19s, she has plenty of peers to help her map her way forward.

With all that knowledge, Britz, who is member of the South African U19 squad, is ready for the acid test that is Varsity Netball.

“It will definitely be a significant challenge and it can create a lot of nerves. But, for me, it’s all about trusting the process, believing in the work I’ve put in and knowing that the results will follow.”

The sport has been part of her young life ever since her mother introduced her to it at the age of four.

“My mom has been a huge influence – she always helped me find the right balance between being competitive and having fun. She put in a lot of hours to guide me and, as a result, my passion for netball just grew.”

Her holistic approach was reflected in the fact that friendships made as an U14 player had stood the test of time.

Britz chose to ply her trade at the Gqeberha university due to it being close to home and its “strong sports programme”.

“Madibaz Netball has the most supportive coaches and management team. They are always there to lift you up and support you through both your best and worst moments.”

Young Madibaz netball player Anke Britz looks forward to test herself at her debut Varsity Netball tournament, which starts in Johannesburg on Sunday.

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