Steyn's troops fighting fit for tough Varsity Netball tournament

Former Madibaz star Jeanie Steyn believes her charges are fighting fit for this year’s Varsity Netball tournament, which starts at Wits in Johannesburg on Sunday.

Forging ahead in times of adversity is what new Madibaz coach Jeanie Steyn is asking from her troops when they start their Varsity Netball campaign this weekend.

The elite student competition, which is broadcast live on SuperSport, kicks off in Johannesburg on Sunday when Mandela University will face a stiff opening challenge against North-West (7pm) at Wits. On Monday, they take on UJ (5pm).

Steyn, a former national captain in the Fast5 format, had made the transition from player to head coach and was excited at what she could achieve with the team during her reign.

“Our team is fit and strong and I expect them to trust the processes and systems that we have worked on this season. As we have ticked those boxes, we hope to be successful throughout the competition.”

Although she was calling for a team effort, she said the young Hanniska van Vuuren and experienced Mothira Mohammad were poised to make an impact following their stint for the national student team at the CUCSA Games.

In addition, she said, first-year Anke Britz’s long-range shooting would be extremely valuable.

Mohammad and Siya Dingiswayo will co-captain the Madibaz and it was no secret that Steyn relied on them to lead from the front.

“They are experienced and good leaders and the players respect them. All I expect of them is to be themselves and to motivate the team to do the same.”

The Madibaz coach, who took over from her longtime mentor Lana Krige, felt that a generous helping of self-belief would be critical to their cause at the high level demanded by the tournament.

“For each challenge that they will face, they will have the answer. It will all come down to the players relying on that and their individual strengths.”

The squad’s ability to push through tough challenges had surprised her and she was confident that they could achieve beyond expectations if they displayed that quality in every match.

Steyn admitted that it would be a learning curve for her, too, when she took the hot seat courtside.

“The transition from player to coach is ongoing but I believe the advantage of having played recently is that I understand the challenges faced by the players.”

Krige, who will travel with the team as assistant coach, had set the standard over many years and learning from her made the transition much smoother for the former Madibaz stalwart.

Steyn also paid tribute to the players and management for supporting and respecting her in her new role.

With only two matches per bumper leg, her charges had a week to do specific preparation for their next opponents.

Mandela University will host the second weekend of the tournament on September 8 and 9.

“It is the first time we will see this sort of action since 2019, so that is great for the Eastern Cape. It will be two days of high-class netball and I urge all netball fans and Madibaz supporters to come,” Steyn said.

Having enjoyed a lengthy stint in Varsity Netball during her playing career, she believed it was the ultimate testing ground for the country’s younger players.

“This is a showcase of talent, skill and adaptability, some of the key aspects that national selectors look at.”

Matches were broadcast nationally, which created a platform for players to show off their ability and be seen by scouts, she added.