The netball team on the North-West University’s (NWU’s) Vanderbijilpark Campus, under the guidance of head coach Monique Meyer, is still brimming with pride after bringing home the gold and a slew of individual accolades from the University Sports South Africa netball tournament.

The team's triumph in the C division was complemented by the outstanding achievements of several players. Suné Booysen's exceptional performance earned her the titles of Best Shooter and Overall Player of the tournament. Additionally, Meceila Brits received recognition as the Best Defender of the tournament.

Tanlee Myburgh, Laresha Van der Schyff, Meceila and Fiefie Mogale were invited to play in the Confederation of University and College Sports Associations (CUCSA) trials, with Tanlee and Meceila securing spots in the CUCSA squad.

Coach Meyer expressed immense pride in her team's performance and credited their success to the unwavering dedication of the players and their willingness to push themselves beyond their limits. She detailed the meticulous planning and rigorous training regimen that contributed to the team's success.

"From the start of the season, even at the trials, I made my plans and goals very clear to all the players. Our on-court training sessions were both mentally and physically challenging, and we had a gym session once a week where we overcame the physical challenges together as a team. Before USSA we had a teambuilding weekend where we had a motivational speaker, Minnette Dempsey, helping us to see past our own obstacles to reach our ultimate team goal,” she explained.

Looking ahead, Coach Meyer expressed her aspirations for the team, aiming to elevate their standing by competing in the B division at USSA in 2025.

"My personal goal for the team is to be able to compete and participate in next year’s B division at USSA in order to move up in the rankings. We will do this by trusting the process of what we are doing and maintaining the growth in player development. We want to focus on the journey and create a winning culture among the players. Watch this space, because this team will achieve greatness," she added.

The NWU’s Vanderbijlpark netball team is ready to take on division B of the USSA in 2025.