THE Cosana netball championships that start on Sunday in Durban present a comeback opportunity for former national captain Nthabiseng Moabi, who has been in the netball wilderness for some time.
THE Cosana netball championships that start on Sunday in Durban present a comeback opportunity for former national captain Nthabiseng Moabi, who has been in the netball wilderness for some time.
The yearly five-day regional netball extravaganza will feature defending champions Malawi, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Namibia, Swaziland, Lesotho and hosts South Africa in a competition that the Malawians have dominated lately.
The SA team had a training camp at the weekend to prepare for the tournament and coach Carin Strauss - who has made up with Netball South Africa after a fallout that resulted in her resignation last month - is motivated, focused and ready to continue where she left off.
"We just had a good squad camp that I thought was valuable and the players showed a lot of eagerness and hunger," said Strauss yesterday.
In order for them to dethrone Malawi as the queens of African netball, the South Africans are going to have to turn that hunger into results, but Strauss identified another team that might pose a challenge to the SA side.
"Botswana are also coming along fine. They have been very competitive and could blindside the other teams there, who could be tempted to underrate them," Strauss said.
The coach was also happy to welcome excellent goal-shooter Tsakane Mbewe, who is back after an injury layoff.
But it is Moabi, the Gauteng South centre player, who Strauss singled out for working her way back into the team.
"Nthabiseng looks very hungry. It will be interesting to see if she can make it back at international level," Strauss said.
Moabi back from netball wilderness
THE Cosana netball championships that start on Sunday in Durban present a comeback opportunity for former national captain Nthabiseng Moabi, who has been in the netball wilderness for some time.
THE Cosana netball championships that start on Sunday in Durban present a comeback opportunity for former national captain Nthabiseng Moabi, who has been in the netball wilderness for some time.
The yearly five-day regional netball extravaganza will feature defending champions Malawi, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Namibia, Swaziland, Lesotho and hosts South Africa in a competition that the Malawians have dominated lately.
The SA team had a training camp at the weekend to prepare for the tournament and coach Carin Strauss - who has made up with Netball South Africa after a fallout that resulted in her resignation last month - is motivated, focused and ready to continue where she left off.
"We just had a good squad camp that I thought was valuable and the players showed a lot of eagerness and hunger," said Strauss yesterday.
In order for them to dethrone Malawi as the queens of African netball, the South Africans are going to have to turn that hunger into results, but Strauss identified another team that might pose a challenge to the SA side.
"Botswana are also coming along fine. They have been very competitive and could blindside the other teams there, who could be tempted to underrate them," Strauss said.
The coach was also happy to welcome excellent goal-shooter Tsakane Mbewe, who is back after an injury layoff.
But it is Moabi, the Gauteng South centre player, who Strauss singled out for working her way back into the team.
"Nthabiseng looks very hungry. It will be interesting to see if she can make it back at international level," Strauss said.