The highly anticipated 2023 Netball World Cup will finally see its first centre pass on Friday, 28 July at 9am when defending champions New Zealand (Black Ferns) face Trinidad and Tobago (Calypso Girls).
The global showpiece starts on Friday and will run until Sunday 6 August, with 60 matches scheduled across the 10 days.
Africa’s maiden World Cup will be held in Cape Town, at the Cape Town International Convention Centre, where the venue will have two courts with matches taking place simultaneously.
The second match of the day will see number 1-ranked side Australia (Diamonds) battle it out with 13th ranked African team Zimbabwe (The Gems) in an 11am fixture.
The two fixtures will be followed by the opening ceremony at 4pm.
At 6pm all eyes will be on the host nation – The Spar Proteas (ranked 5th) as they will clash with Wales (Feathers) who are ranked 9th in the World Netball Rankings.
The day’s events will wrap up with an encounter against 3rd placed England (Roses) versus lowly 14th ranked Barbados (Bajan Gems) match at 8pm.
Expectations are quite high for the Spar Proteas who are coached by Norma Plummer, who came out of semi-retirement in November 2022, to come back and guide the side she led to a fourth-place finish at the global championships in Liverpool, UK, in 2019.
Netball South Africa (NSA) President Cecilia Molokwane has been vocal about her expectations for the national team.
“As a federation, we have given coach Norma [Plummer] and the management team all the support they needed in preparing the best team for the World Cup, it is fair to expect a podium finish from the Spar Proteas,” Molokwane said early this month.
The likes of captain Bongiwe Msomi – who will be featuring in her fourth world cup edition -, experienced defender Karla Pretorius and Khanyisa Chawane will be amongst the key players for coach Plummer.
Sponsorship and financial backing is always a huge obstacle in the development and growth of women’s sport.
In an awe-inspiring display of support for the world’s pinnacle netball event, new sponsors have thrown their support behind the NWC2023, the Local Organising Committee and World Netball announced the addition of sponsors and partners, fuelling excitement ahead of the global sporting spectacle.
THE NEW PARTNERS ARE:
Hollywoodbets: Official betting partner of Netball World Cup 2023
Red Bull: Official energy drink supplier of Netball World Cup 2023
Southern Sun: Official hotel partner of Netball World Cup 2023
Woodlands Dairy – First Choice: Official hydration & recovery supplier of Netball World Cup 2023
Mitchum: Official deodorant supplier of Netball World Cup 2023
Bloc Footwear: Official supplier of Netball World Cup 2023 Volunteers
SA FIXTURES:
Friday, July 28: vs Wales, 6pm
July 29: vs Sri Lanka, 4pm
July 30: vs Jamaica, 6pm
PROTEAS SQUAD:
- Bongiwe Msomi (Captain)
- Karla Pretorius (Vice-Captain)
- Khanyisa Chawane
- Izette Griesel
- Phumza Maweni
- Lenize Potgieter
- Nicola Smith
- Jeante Strydom
- Nichole Taljaard
- Elmere van der Berg
- Shadine van der Merwe
- Ine-Mari Venter
Reserves: Owethu Ngubane, Refiloe Nketsa and Lefebre Rademan
16 teams will be playing in the World Cup, and they’ll be divided into the following pools:
- Pool A: Australia, Tonga, Zimbabwe, and Fiji
- Pool B: England, Malawi, Scotland, and Barbados
- Pool C: Jamaica, South Africa, Wales, and Sri Lanka
- Pool D: New Zealand, Uganda, Trinidad & Tobago, and Singapore
