South Africa's netball team, the Spar Proteas, are ready to take on the netball world in Liverpool, England, on Friday, when the 2019 Vitality Netball World Cup starts.
Fifth-ranked South Africa are up against Trinidad and Tobago, the 10th world-ranked Caribbean Island team, in their opening game.
Norma Plummer, the SA head coach, said her charges were ready for the tournament. “We are ready, as ready as we can be.
"Our training camp and two test matches in Wales have helped us tremendously with our preparation for the World Cup.
READY AS CAN BE: Norma Plummer says her team is ready as can be for the Vitality Netball World Cup. Photo: Muzi Ntombela/BackpagPix.
"We dominated Wales in both Test matches which has given my players added confidence going into Liverpool. I was able to give all 12 players court time and try various combinations which were a crucial part of our preparation.”
Plummer said that South Africa were in the toughest group of the 16 nation tournament.
“Each of our three round-robin stage 1 games Friday (Trinidad and Tobago), Saturday (Fiji) and Sunday (Jamaica) are big games.
It's almost time for our first dose of #NetballWorldCup action! 🤩
First up, @NetballNZ will be taking on Malawi before Barbados face @Netball_SG
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— Netball World Cup (@NetballWorldCup) July 12, 2019
"The girls will have to be on point in each game to have a chance of ending in the top two of the group come Monday.”
“We can’t underestimate Trinidad and Tobago. They don’t play a lot of international matches so their form is relatively unknown, but they have a few world-class players and we can’t take them likely in our opener on Friday.”
South African team coach in Liverpool Dorette Badenhorst agreed with Plummer. “We are well prepared. Norma has a good idea of how she is going to play the combinations.
"We have 12 brilliant players to work with and they all are in great shape and ready to do duty.”
SA fixtures:
Friday:
South Africa vs Trinidad and Tobago
Saturday:
South Africa vs Fiji
Sunday:
South Africa vs Jamaica
African News Agency