Mzansi win Netball Cup African Qualifiers
Hosts of the highly anticipated 2023 Netball World Cup, South Africa, led an inspiring series of matches to come out first in the continental qualifiers held in Tshwane recently.
Malawi, Uganda and Zimbabwe will join Mzansi in representing Africa at the global showcase set to take place in the City of Cape Town.
Following in the footsteps of their football counterparts, Banyana Banyana, the ladies were undefeated throughout the week-long qualifiers at the Rembrandt Hall inside the University of Pretoria.
In the final match it was South Africa who came out on tops winning the match 60 – 44 against Malawi. Phumza Maweni earned herself Player of the Match and her 100th cap for the Proteas, while teammates Bongiwe Msomi celebrated 150 caps, Shadine van der Merwe and Khanyisa Chawane hailed their 50th caps respectively.
Other awards went to Best Shooter: Elmere van der Berg; Best Mid-Court: Khanyisa Chawane; Best Defender: Shadine van der Merwe; MVP: Martha Dambo (Malawi); Special Sportsmanship Award: Beatrice Kabucho (Kenya).
Meet Letsatsi – World Cup mascot unveiled
During the African Qualifiers, the hosts of the World Cup officially revealed the mascot for the international tournament, a meerkat named Letsatsi (meaning Sun in Sotho).
Netball South Africa President, Cecilia Malokwane said: “The unveiling of Letsatsi signifies the milestones that we have reached as the Netball World Cup Board and community. We have always said that this Netball World Cup belongs to all Africans and not only to South Africa.
“I am very happy that we are at this point, this is a clear indication of how ready we are to welcome the world to our shores, we are ready to deliver an African World Cup. The unveiling of Letsatsi tells the world that we are ready for them.”
As part of the preparations for the NWC2023 a competition was announced in March 2022 with the theme “What does netball mean to me”, where the Netball Family were asking to design a mascot.
Out of all the entries, locally and internationally, the winning design came from 11-year-old Violet Cassidy from Manchester, United Kingdom.
Speaking on the announcement, World Netball CEO Clare Briegal said: “It’s great to see the second of the five Netball World Cup 2023 Regional Qualifiers get underway, this time in the host country South Africa. How special to use this as a platform to launch the mascot for the Netball World Cup 2023!
“World Netball refers to our teams, Member nations, officials, volunteers and fans as the Netball Family. Violet’s choice of the meerkat, a highly social animal that lives in supportive family groups, is perfect for netball”.
The 16th edition of the Netball World Cup will be the first to be held in Africa since the first World Cup, held 60 years before in 1963, making it a very special event for South Africa.
Minister of Sports, Recreation, Arts and Culture Nathi Mthethwa said the country is look forward to another big year at the world’s stage by our country’s women in sport.
“Added to this South Africa will also stage the Under 19 Girls Cricket World Cup and the T20 Women’s Cricket World Cup, in early 2023,” he said.
