The University of Free State’s netball side is pressured to amend in the remaining four fixtures of the Varsity Netball competition of which they are the defending champions. Kovsie boasts four titles they won in 2013, 2014, 2018 and 2021 – and looking to extend to five this year.
The defending champions prospect defending the crown is in the balance following back-to-back losses in the competition. These were against arch-rivals, Stellenbosch’s Maties, 53-57 and University of Johannesburg (UJ), 43-54, while single victory was over the University of the Western Cape, 65-43. Maties avenged the 39-55 loss to Kovsie in last year’s Varsity Netball final held at the Coetzenburg Indoor Centre.
The outcome left the Free State side in fifth position with seven points – compelling them to prove their championship pedigree to secure a top four slot. Currently in the top-four are North West University and Maties – joint leaders tied on 15 points, University of Pretoria, 12 points and UJ, ten points. Featuring eight universities in South Africa, the tournament officially started on Saturday, (17/09), and will culminate with the final on 17 October.
The remaining fixtures are must-win for Kovsie to realise the dream of extending record to five. Their quest continues with the second weekend (25-26 September) at the NWU’s campus in Potchefstroom before coming at their slaughterhouse of Callie Human Hall for the last two rounds of matches to be played on 2-3 October. Positive outcomes in the remaining matches will increase Kovsie’s chances to finish on podium – with a bronze medal the only such possibility besides the sought-after prize of the trophy and silver medal.
The semi-finals will take place on 10 October and the final a week later, on 17 October. The venues are to be decided by who qualifies and venue suitability. All 31 matches of the Varsity Netball tournament are broadcast live on SuperSport channel, and this will include the final on 17 October at 19:00.
The tournament serves as perfect build-up for the Netball World Cup 2023 to best South Africa in Cape Town. The global showpiece will be from 28 July till 6 August. Several netball activities are staged in the country building up excitement for the upcoming Netball World Cup Qualifier – Africa, to be held in Pretoria and the NWC2023.
Activities popularising the netball showpiece are under the theme campaign the #RoadToCapeTown. This will be the first time the Netball World Cup is staged in South Africa.
