Madibaz aim to turn home court into Varsity Netball fortress

The Madibaz aim to turn Mandela University’s South Campus into their fortress when they host the Varsity Netball tournament for the first time since 2019 this weekend.

In a boost for netball in the region, Mandela University has been selected to host the second bumper round of eight games in Gqeberha on Sunday and Monday.

Coach Jeanie Steyn banked on hometown support and a better all-round display to push them to their first victory of the 2024 competition when they meet Tuks on Sunday (1pm) and TUT on Monday (7pm).

“It is the first time any of our players will be playing at home so to have the crowd backing us is very exciting. Our fans have been extremely supportive; everyone is excited to see Madibaz in action.”

The team experienced a difficult start to their campaign in Johannesburg last weekend when they came unstuck against NWU and UJ, but Steyn was not discouraged.

“We are still positive and working towards playing to the standard that we know we can.”

In Johannesburg, the team had produced segments of good play and this week she asked her charges to focus on delivering these periods more consistently and throughout the court.

She pointed out that the Madibaz had dominated the powerplays in both encounters, outscoring their opponents by six goals to two.

Steyn was still confident that their intense preparation in the lead-up to the tournament would pay dividends.

“The players must now trust themselves and the systems that we have put in place throughout the year. Past results should not define the remainder of the competition.”

In fact, she said, it was an opportunity to gain experience and return as a more competitive unit.

The former national Fast5 player-turned-coach acknowledged that Varsity Netball had evolved into a highly competitive arena.

“There is a good spread of national players among the teams and this adds to the intensity of the matches.”

Most of the players on display are also competing in the Telkom National League and are therefore in peak condition.

Despite being on the losing end, Steyn felt that a high-scoring game such as the one against NWU (49-85) was a compliment to the attacking skills of both teams.

Lessons had been learnt, of course, she added.

“I think the players have experienced how important it is to adapt immediately to instructions.

“We have to work on the timing of our drives and passes. If the timing of one of those is off, we have to work twice as hard and then we are vulnerable.”

As she prepped her team for the next set of challenges, Steyn warned that they would have to deal with two very different styles of play in the coming days.

“Tuks are about speed and control, whereas TUT operate at a slightly slower pace and play the open player.”

That means that their defensive strategy will have to differ slightly.

“But we have the tools to counter them,” Steyn said.

Sunday’s clash against the defending champions would be an excellent measure of Madibaz’s current standing in the sport, she said.

Fixtures:

Sunday

1pm: Madibaz v Tuks; 3pm: Wits v Maties; 5pm: UJ v Free State; 7pm: TUT v NWU

Monday

1pm: UJ v Wits; 3pm: NWU v Tuks; 5pm: Maties v Free State; 7pm: Madibaz v TUT

Madibaz’s Kaylin Coetzer shoots for goal during their Varsity Netball match against UJ in Johannesburg at the weekend. Mandela University will host the second bumper round of the competition at its South Campus on Sunday and Monday.

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