Proteas scouting talent for Ne

Paarl Girls High School’s Renezia Andrews was player of the tournament. Photo: Supplied

Proteas scouting talent for Netball World Youth Cup in 2025

Proteas Assistant Coach Dumisani Chauke was at the 12th Wildeklawer Sports Tournament recently and reflected on the event.

Proteas scouting talent for Ne

Paarl Girls High School’s Renezia Andrews was player of the tournament. Photo: Supplied

Let it not be said that the Proteas Netball team’s management don’t have an eye on the future.

Proteas Assistant Coach Dumisani Chauke was at the 12th Wildeklawer Sports Tournament recently and reflected on the event through the lens of scouting for the Netball World Youth Cup in 2025.

Proteas scouting talent 

The national team will take an active role in shaping young netballing talents ensuring the limited resources at the game’s disposal are well utilised.

“Many of the under U16’s and U18’s competing in the 2022 Wildeklawer will form the nucleus of the 2025 team,” said Chauke. 

“To create a world-class netball player, we must ensure they are the best physically and mentally, and we want them to be placed at the strategic universities and colleges where we know that their coaching will be of the finest quality.

 “A lot of background work needs to be done to build a squad that can perform against the likes of Australia and New Zealand. 

“This starts with the talent on offer, how this talent is nurtured, i.e., we need the best coaches, and we also need to ensure that their physical and mental health is taken care of.  

“The pandemic has allowed us to ensure such structures are put in place, so our preparations are well underway. We need tournaments such as the Absa Wildeklawer to give us the opportunity to see the talent we have on offer in South Africa.”

Proteas
Dumisani Chauke with U16 winners Afrikaanse Hoer Meisieskool Pretoria. Photo: Supplied

The Proteas aim to challenge netball’s established order and usurp dominance from Australia and New Zealand.

South Africa will host the 2023 Netball World Cup in Cape Town and will also challenge the Antipodeans at the upcoming Commonwealth Games.

The next generation

Chauke also hopes that the next generation can upstage Australia and New Zealand in Gibraltar in 2025.

“Prior to the pandemic, New Zealand and Australia have dominated the tournament. Both countries have taken the title four times each in the past eight encounters. Our plan is to change the status quo! South Africa’s time is coming.”