Wishing on a COACH

SPAR Proteas coach Elize Kotze remains upbeat about South Africa’s prospects at the world cup in Sydney next year, despite the disappointment of finishing sixth at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
Speaking on the opening day of the SPAR National Championships in Cape Town on Monday, Kotze said her goal had been to reach the semifinals of the Commonwealth Games. “We were playing the best netball teams in the world, and we believed we could challenge for a medal,” she said. “I still believe we can do it at the world championships next year. We have beaten England and Jamaica in the past, and I am very positive we can do it again.

“We will have to plan very carefully between now and the world championships and make sure that we have the right players, the right mental attitude and the physicality to compete with the top teams.” Kotze said the team had learned a great deal from the experience and would have a better idea of how to tackle the top teams in Sydney.

“We will select a squad of 25 players to prepare for Sydney, and this will be reduced to 15 early next year. Ideally, I would like them to be compensated for the loss of income so that I can work with them fulltime for two months before the world championships so we develop new tactics and work out how to counter the top teams.

“We also need to play against at least two of the top four countries before we go to Sydney, to hone our skills. If we are to compete against professionals, we need to become professional as well.” Five members of the team that went to Glasgow have been forced to miss the SPAR National Championships because they have no more leave. Kotze said she would ask Netball South Africa compromise on its ruling that players should take part in the SPAR National Championships to be eligible for national selection.

“Those five players are among our very best, and we need them to be part of the squad,” she said. The five players are Maryka Holtzhausen, Adele Niemand, Karla Mostert, Zanele Mdodana and Chrisna van Zyl. Kotze said the selectors would be on the lookout for rising stars. “There is always room for new talent in the team,” she said.


***The following which is in ITALICS  is the opinion of an avid netball fan on what is happening in Barbados and what needs to be done as it relates to the national team***.

To have this type of insight, a coach must be able to move a practice way beyond. 2 drills and a scrimmage. Each training session should have a focus. It has to  be planned from warmup to cooldown. What I have seen so far is a 'go as you please approach'. The only result is absolute failure. We have returned to the days of high disgruntlement among players. The players are no longer enjoying the game. The declaration of " I LOVE MY TEAM" has to be tough love. Make the tough decision, resign in the interest of this team. That will be TRUE LOVE. Your staying around has returned  the team to the graveyard of 2006 when you and the Manager were at the helm of the 12th of 12 teams.

Interesting!