With their hopes of reaching the playoffs dimmed, the SPAR NMMU Madibaz will be playing for honour in the remaining round-robin matches of the Varsity Netball competition this coming weekend. The team from Port Elizabeth will take on the fifth-placed University of Johannesburg on Sunday afternoon, followed by Pukke – who lie second on the log – on Monday evening. According to Madibaz coach Dumisani Chauke, her girls were looking good and well rested, and ready to face their challengers in … [Read more...] about Playing for Honour
netball
Madibaz Cape Town Victory
The NMMU Madibaz opened their Varsity Netball account with a convincing 45-16 win over the University of Cape Town in the Mother City on Sunday. The victory put the team from Port Elizabeth into third position (based on goal difference) in the standings after the opening weekend of the six-week tournament. The Madibaz have their heart set on retaining their top-four spot after reaching the semi-finals in last year’s inaugural competition. Madibaz coach Dumisani Chauke said she was very … [Read more...] about Madibaz Cape Town Victory
Vimbela to make Commonwealth Games debut
SPAR Madibaz goal keeper Zanele Vimbela will make her full international debut for the South African senior netball team at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland, at the end of August. Vimbela follows fellow NMMU stalwart and SA's most-capped player Zanele Mdodana into the national line-up. "I'm really looking forward to it," said the Port Elizabeth-based defender. "It's pretty overwhelming but you've just got to keep training hard for it and that's what I'm doing at the … [Read more...] about Vimbela to make Commonwealth Games debut
Madibaz dominate netball tournament
The Madibaz teams made the most of their home-court advantage to dominate the SPAR-NMMU Netball Tournament in Port Elizabeth on Saturday. A record 54 teams - from clubs as far afield as East London and Grahamstown - descended on the 2nd Avenue Campus courts in Summerstrand for the season-opening tournament. But in the end it was the hosts who prevailed, taking the honours in three of the five pool finals, as well as the men's division. In pool A, the SPAR-NMMU first team claimed a … [Read more...] about Madibaz dominate netball tournament
SA Netball boss happy with 2013 season
Netball South Africa (NSA) president Mimi Mthethwa could not contain her excitement as she reminisces on the 2013 achievements of both the Proteas and the Baby Proteas. The Netball Proteas beat England for the first time to clinch the Tri-Series when they hosted them in Port Elizabeth. In the fast 5 Netball World series the green and gold girls narrowly lost to Jamaica for the bronze medal, while the Baby Proteas finished in a commanding 5th position at the youth world champs in Glasgow. … [Read more...] about SA Netball boss happy with 2013 season
De Vos Malan Primary School Netball clinic
Future Eastern Cape netball stars were treated to instruction from some of the country's top coaches, as the final SPAR netball clinic for the year played out at De Vos Malan Primary School in Port Elizabeth this week. More than 400 players from primary and high schools across the province felt the benefit of the seven coaching clinics that took place as far afield as Middelburg, Graaff-Reinet, George and Grahamstown this year. The two-day sessions, run by the SPAR-NMMU netball club, saw … [Read more...] about De Vos Malan Primary School Netball clinic
Reigning Champs Diamond Challenge in Port Elizabeth
After a strong showing in last week's Tri-Nations netball series, the SPAR Proteas will have another bite at the cherry when they take on Zambia and Zimbabwe in the Diamond Challenge in Port Elizabeth from Sunday. The reigning African champions will play their two northern neighbours in the second helping of international netball in as many weeks at the NMMU Indoor Sports Centre. PE-based star Zanele Mdodana said her team was on good form after the international series against England and … [Read more...] about Reigning Champs Diamond Challenge in Port Elizabeth
Home ground advantage for tri-nations netball in Port Elizabeth
South Africa will maximise their home ground advantage when they take on England and Trinidad and Tobago in a tri-nations netball series in front of a capacity crowd at the NMMU Indoor Sports Centre in Port Elizabeth from Tuesday - 22 October. SPAR Proteas captain Maryka Holtzhausen said her side were determined to prove themselves in the four-day contest after losing 3-0 to England in a test series on British soil last month. "The tri-nations is definitely an opportunity, I wouldn't say … [Read more...] about Home ground advantage for tri-nations netball in Port Elizabeth
Madibaz stake claim for Varsity Netball title
Hosts NMMU have emerged as strong contenders for the inaugural Varsity Netball crown after romping to a 67-22 victory over the University of Cape Town in Port Elizabeth on Monday night. The televised match saw the SPAR-Madibaz side emerge unbeaten from the opening weekend of the six-week series, following a narrow 57-52 win over the University of Johannesburg and a convincing 51-30 victory against Stellenbosch University. With 15 points, the Eastern Cape outfit now moves into joint first … [Read more...] about Madibaz stake claim for Varsity Netball title
International netball heads for PE
Port Elizabethans will have a rare opportunity to see some of the world's top netballers in action when the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University hosts an international quadrangular test series in October. South Africa will take to the court against England, Wales and Trinidad & Tobago in the four-nation tournament, which takes place at the university's Missionvale Campus. SPAR-NMMU netball manager Theresa le Roux said it was a real coup for the institution, which had some of the best … [Read more...] about International netball heads for PE
NMMU Netball secures three year sponsorship
SPAR Eastern Cape has reconfirmed its commitment to the development of local women’s sport by extending its sponsorship of the SPAR-NMMU Netball Club for a further three years. This follows the latter’s recognition as Sports Club of the Year at the prestigious Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University Achiever Awards last week. The club won the provincial netball league for a seventh consecutive year with several players and management representing South Africa at international … [Read more...] about NMMU Netball secures three year sponsorship
Three SPAR-NMMU netballers get national nod
The depth of netball at the Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan University in Port Elizabeth was again highlighted when three players were selected for national duty. Vice-captain Zanele Mdodana and Mampho Tsotetsi, who helped the SPAR-NMMU alumni to the local league title last week, have been named in the senior side for the three-test series against Jamaica in June. In addition, Zanele Vimbela, who captains the SPAR-NMMU first team, has been drafted for the South African student team, which … [Read more...] about Three SPAR-NMMU netballers get national nod
Vision Girls
If anybody knows what it takes to get to the top in sport it is SA Protea netballer Zanele Mdodana from New Brighton, Port Elizabeth. Having reached the highest level of participation in netball, Zanele decided to share her expertise and experience with her local community. This inspiration gave birth to the Vision Girls Netball Academy, which at present is a group of 25 aspirant netballers from various areas in the Nelson Mandela Metro who are currently receiving comprehensive training in … [Read more...] about Vision Girls
Half of NMMU Netball Squad Crack National Nod
In an unprecedented move, half of the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University's netball team have been named in the South African student squad, the academic institution announced on Monday, 18 July 2011. The six Spar-NMMU players were selected on the basis of their individual performances at the University Sport South Africa (USSA) tournament, which took place at North-West University's Potchefstroom campus earlier this month. The team placed fourth overall. "It's obviously a very big … [Read more...] about Half of NMMU Netball Squad Crack National Nod
