The University of the Free State’s netball side is bound to make line-up changes in the remaining two rounds of the Varsity Netball tournament, of which they are the defending champions. They are pressured to secure a slot in the top four teams going to round six, and participate in the seven matches to be played in the Callie Human Hall on 2 and 3 October.
Achieving this will guarantee them a spot in the semifinals and a chance to defend their crown. Kovsies boast four titles won in 2013, 2014, 2018 and 2021 – and are looking to extend this list to five.
They defended their title by beating the University of Pretoria by 58 – 48 and the Nelson Mandela University by 25 – 66 in matches played at the North West University’s Amphitheatre in Potchefstroom on Saturday (25/09) and Sunday.
The defending champions seek to retain the crown after losing matches in the previous rounds of the competition against their arch-rivals, the University of Stellenbosch’s Maties by 53 – 57 and the University of Johannesburg by 43 – 54. Their single victory was against the University of the Western Cape, by 65 – 43. Maties avenged the 39 – 55 loss they had suffered against Kovsies in last year’s Varsity Netball final.
Currently in the top-four are Maties (24 points), North West University (22), University of Pretoria (17) and Kovsies (17). The University of Johannesburg, in fifth place with 16 points, is eager to secure a slot in the top four.
Kovsies cannot afford to slip up in the remaining matches. They have to fight for their quest to retain the crown at their slaughterhouse of the Callie Human Hall.
Positive outcomes in the remaining matches will increase Kovsies’ chances to finish on the podium – with a bronze or silver medal the only consolation if the winner’s trophy is out of their reach.
Featuring eight universities in South Africa, the tournament officially started on 17 September and will culminate in the final on 17 October. The semifinals will take place on 10 October and the final match a week later.
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, and this will include the final on 17 October at 19:00.
The tournament serves as perfect build-up for the Netball World Cup taking place in 2023 (NWC2023). The global showpiece will be from 28 July until 6 August. Several netball activities are staged in the country, helping build 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.
