Category: Announcements

NWC nominated for Best Event of 2023 award

Organisers of the Netball World Cup 2023 have reacted with pride at the news that the tournament has been shortlisted for the Sports Business Awards in the “Best Sporting Event of the Year 2023” category. 

World Netball’s flagship event, the Netball World Cup, was staged on African soil for the first time, when South Africa played host to the 2023 competition at Cape Town’s International Convention Centre from 28 July to 6 August.

Australia regained the title when they beat England in the final, while Jamaica claimed the bronze medal.

The chairperson of the Netball World Cup 2023 Board, Patience Shikwambana, expressed her delight at the news of the prestigious award nomination. 

“To be shortlisted as best sporting event in the Sports Business Awards is a terrific moment not only for me and our Board but also the Netball World Cup LOC, the fans and country as a whole. 

“South Africa has proved time and time again that we are capable of successfully staging the world’s biggest sporting events and it’s a proud moment for me as Board Chairperson to reflect on the success of the Netball World Cup and its important contribution to the promotion, growth and development of netball and sport in South African, Africa and the world.”

In her reaction, the NWC 2023 Tournament Director, Priscilla Masisi, acknowledged: “We are extremely proud to have learnt that the 2023 Netball World Cup has been nominated as the best sporting event of the year in the Sports Business Awards. 

“This nomination testifies that my team’s dedicated hard work over the past months in ensuring the success of the tournament is recognised. We must also thank our partners and sponsors who worked hand in hand with us in delivering this tournament. Lastly, the hundreds of volunteers who assisted in servicing each division of the tournament must be applauded for their important part in the overall success of the event. “

In adding her voice to the news of the award nomination, the president of Netball SA and NWC2023 Board member, Cecilia Molokwane, said: “This nomination means a lot to all of us because we did what has never been done before. We hosted a Netball World Cup for the first time in South Africa and the continent, that on its own is a huge success. A nomination on its own is a big enough win for us. On behalf of all the partners, I’d like to thank every single person who played a role in making sure that we deliver what we did – as a country we should be very proud of this achievement.”

The success of the event exceeded expectations and was the culmination of four years of planning by WN, NWC2023 (Local Organising Committee) and Netball South Africa.  

Highlights of the event included it having the most successful commercial programme in NWC history. Sponsorship sales were double that achieved for Netball World Cup 2019, whilst rights to broadcast the matches live were sold in all the major netball nations, with fans in all other countries able to sign up to watch on WN’s NetballPass OTT platform.

On social media, some 109,437 social media posts referencing the NWC2023 reached a further 3.3-billion impressions, and social media videos referencing the event generated 12.1-million views.

The impact on the ground was just as great, with 63 free fan parks and 30 viewing centres across the nine South African provinces bringing the event to everyone in the country while the host broadcaster SuperSport also made history as the NWC2023 was recorded and produced by an all-women crew. 

Shikwambana concluded: “On behalf of the NWC2023 Board and entire Team, we convey our profound appreciation to all Stakeholders, Partners and Sponsors that enabled the Organising Team and rainbow nation to deliver a successful World Cup. We wouldn’t have made it this far without the guidance, support and assistance from WN, NSA, our Government, Sponsors and all partners. We are forever grateful for the gesture in ensuring that our women staged the best-ever event in South Africa.”

Speaking on the award shortlisting, World Netball CEO, Clare Briegal, said: “We are thrilled that the Netball World Cup 2023 has been shortlisted for such a prestigious award.

“Africa was the only continent yet to host a Netball World Cup, and by awarding the right to host the Netball World Cup 2023 to Netball South Africa, World Netball demonstrated its commitment to delivering growth. 

“Netball SA, the NWC2023 Local Organising Committee, and the whole of Africa embraced this opportunity and staged an incredible Netball World Cup opening up netball to a wider audience than ever before. Thank you to everyone involved who made it a true success.”

NWC2023 trailblazers sign off Women’s Month

As South Africa signed off the month of August, on which was officially labelled Women’s Month, a Netball World Cup 2023 nomination for the prestigious global Sports Business Awards provided the ultimate endorsement of faith in the ability of at least five leading sports figures in the country.

All of whom are women, trailblazers  as they continue to push back the boundaries and reach new heights.

Patience Shikwambana, Sumayya Khan, Priscilla Masisi, Cecilia Molokwane and Blanche de le Guerre were integral to the success of the Netball World Cup 2023, which was staged in Cape Town from 28 July to 6 August. This was the first time that the flagship tournament of World Netball had been held on African soil. And these leading women stakeholders in South African sport were integral to the success of the event.

Shikwambana was Chairperson of the NWC2023 Board, flanked by Board members Khan, Molokwane and De le Guerre, while Masisi was the Tournament Director.

The respective roles for Shikwambana, Khan, Molokwane and De le Guerre, away from their NWC duties, are South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC) Chief Operating Officer, Deputy Director in the Department of Sport, Netball SA president and Netball SA CEO.

The delivery of the event, which saw it become the most successful Netball World Cup commercially in history, and doubled the sponsorship sales from the 2019 event in Liverpool, was down in no small part to the five leading women of South African sport.

It is fitting that, as the curtain comes down on the month of August, these women are celebrated as captains of the sports industry.

Netball World Cup 2023 celebrates event greening success

Netball World Cup 2023 celebrates event greening success

Monday, 7 August 2023: The extensive sustainability programme implemented at the Netball World Cup 2023 (NWC2023) has been a resounding success, and delivers a solid baseline for future events, Tournament Director Priscilla Masisi confirms.

“A full carbon footprint and impact report is being produced for the first time in the history of the event, including details of the longer term legacy projects,” she adds. 

“This is a complex and dynamic event encompassing a broad scope of activities involving multiple stakeholders. We want to thank the Local Organising Committee (LOC) for providing executive support, and all our partners, service providers, support crews and participants for playing their part in the effort to host a low-carbon tournament, which included a wide range of associated social impact projects.”

One of the major actions of the implementation was a concerted effort to engage and gain buy-in from service providers: from emergency medical services to waste and cleaning crews to the venue operations teams.

All clothing, hats and bags used by support crews and for sale as official merchandise at the main tournament were locally produced, while the venue implements a number of technologies to cut down on water and energy usage. Efficient appliances, lighting, taps and toilets all contribute to this, with live monitoring to ensure proactive management. Multi-bin recycling stations allowed for separation at source, with a goal of diverting at least 80% from landfill through recycling and collecting organic materials for use as animal feed.

Awareness creation received much attention to ensure the positive practices endure beyond the tournament. More than 400 volunteers, officials and support staff were trained in responsible event hosting, and interactive waste stations playfully encouraged waste separation. While the LOC committed to a 10-pillar Sustainability Statement, physical and digital walls allowed individuals and groups to pledge their ongoing support: tournament mascot Letsatsi, scholars, spectators, teams like the SPAR Proteas and Tonga,  and even the broadcast team.

“The #pivot4planet campaign has captured the netball community’s attention and we hope NWC2023 marks an increased sense of responsibility to international netball tournaments,” Masisi concludes.

New sponsors and partners on board for NWC2023

With just over a week to the first centre pass of the Netball World Cup 2023 (NWC2023) in Cape Town, the Local Organising Committee and World Netball are pleased to announce the addition of a further wave of sponsors and partners, fuelling excitement and anticipation ahead of the global sporting spectacle.

In an overwhelming display of support for the world’s pinnacle netball event, a multitude of new sponsors have thrown their support behind the NWC2023, which is being held on the African continent for the first time.

The NWC2023 is set to take place at the Cape Town International Convention Centre from 28th July to 6th August, bringing together 16 teams from across the globe in a contest for the sport’s ultimate prize.

The new partners are:

Hollywoodbets: Official betting partner of Netball World Cup 2023
Red Bull: Official energy drink supplier of Netball World Cup 2023
Southern Sun: Official hotel partner of Netball World Cup 2023
Woodlands Dairy – First Choice: Official hydration & recovery supplier of Netball World Cup 2023
Mitchum: Official deodorant supplier of Netball World Cup 2023
Bloc Footwear: Official supplier of Netball World Cup 2023 Volunteers

Tournament Director for the NWC2023 Priscilla Masisi said: “We are thrilled to welcome all these new partners onboard.

“Netball is a team sport after all, and we are delighted to have them as an integral part of our team.

“Partnerships like these are essential to the tournament’s success, and beyond that, to the growth and recognition of netball and women’s sport as a whole. 

“As we look forward to 10 days of incredible action in Cape Town, we extend our heartfelt thanks to all our sponsors and partners who are making this all possible.”

World Netball CEO, Clare Briegal added: “We are excited to have Hollywoodbets, Red Bull, Mitchum, Woodlands Diary, and Bloc onboard for the Netball World Cup 2023.

“We are now just days away from the start of our pinnacle event in Cape Town. 

“Our roster of partners and sponsors, including our premium partners Telkom and SPAR, official hotel partner Southern Sun and our official ball supplier, Gilbert will help to ensure that NWC2023 is a huge success, helping us increase global participation, reach, revenue and capacity.

“We’re delighted to celebrate this family of sponsors, who help to make this the most successful sponsorship programme ever for a Netball World Cup; thank you to them all.”

Devin Heffer, Brand and Communication Manager at Hollywoodbets said: “We as Hollywoodbets are extremely excited about partnering with this year’s Netball World Cup, which will be staged in the beautiful City of Cape Town.

“We look forward to leveraging this sponsorship, not only in exposure for our Purple brand, but in being able to further invest into the sport of Netball at development and grassroots levels.

“We are expecting a highly competitive tournament and will be offering a fantastic array of betting options on every match. The organisers have promoted this tournament incredibly well over the past 12 months, and we can’t wait to witness the world’s best right here in our home country!” 

Candy Tothill, Head of Marketing for Southern Sun, said: “We’re delighted to be the Official Hotel Partner of the Netball World Cup 2023 and extend our signature hospitality to teams from across the globe as we welcome this auspicious event to Cape Town, South Africa.

“Over 50 years of hospitality and exceptional service with flair have made Southern Sun the Official Hotel Partner to the likes of the 1995 Rugby World Cup, the 2010 FIFA World Cup, and the 2022 World Cup Rugby Sevens – and now it is with great pride that we host the Netball World Cup 2023 at our world-class hotels.”

Thulile Memela, Brand Manager at Woodlands Dairy – First Choice said: “As Woodlands Dairy we are so delighted to be a part of this prestigious tournament.

“First Choice High Protein Recovery will aid to assist the athletes to Push Past Possible. 

“The Netball World Cup brings together national teams from across the globe to compete at the highest level of netball excellence and serves as a platform to celebrate the remarkable talent and achievements of female athletes in the sport.

“The athletes are taking up space on the Africa soil. We are proud!”

Red Bull South Africa said: “We are thrilled to be the official energy sponsor for the Netball World Cup. As a brand that is passionate about giving wings to people and ideas, our partnership with the Netball World Cup reaffirms our dedication to empowering athletes and enhancing sporting experiences worldwide.

“As an energy drink that fuels performance and celebrates the spirit of competition, Red Bull aligns perfectly with the dynamic and exhilarating nature of netball.

“We wish teams all the best and hope they get to celebrate and experience the spirit of Mzansi.” 

Heather Goate, Marketing Director at Revlon South Africa where Mitchum is one of the organisation’s portfolio brands said: “Our partnership with the Netball World Cup 2023 marks a significant milestone for Mitchum South Africa as we align ourselves with one of the most prestigious sporting events in the world.

“We are excited to support the exceptional athletes competing at the tournament and to contribute to the growth and recognition of women’s sports globally. Through our official deodorant sponsorship, we aim to inspire individuals to embrace an active lifestyle, celebrate their achievements, and reach for new heights.”

Gift Sithole, Founder and CEO at Bloc Footwear added: “The partnership between Bloc Footwear and the Netball World Cup aims to celebrate and elevate the sport of netball, which has captivated audiences worldwide with its athleticism, skill, and teamwork. By joining forces, both entities seek to foster the growth and development of netball, while inspiring young athletes to excel in their passion for the game.”

Details on tickets and travel packages and more information on the Netball World Cup 2023 are all available on the official tournament website (www.nwc2023.org.za) with a range of tickets and packages still on offer. 

Only 20 days to start of NWC2023!

Excitement levels are rising with several South African players joining the celebratory mood as the Netball World Cup 2023 countdown reached 20 days to go on Saturday.

On 28 July, 16 teams from across the globe will launch their quests for glory at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC) where the tournament will be held until 6 August.

Veteran Spar Proteas defender Phumza Maweni said: “It’s so exciting when you see the countdown… this is it, it’s really happening in our country.

“I’m really looking forward to seeing the girls, to get together at camp. Everyone is looking ready and fit and they’ve worked so hard to improve the standard of the game so that makes me even more excited. I can’t wait to go on court and show the world what we have as a team.”

Maweni’s teammate Lenize Potgieter added her excitement. “20 days to go to the Netball World Cup in Cape Town!

“I hope you all have your tickets, I hope you’re all ready to support us and just bring the South African and African vibe,” she said.

“I think there’s a lot that’s going to be celebrated. I can’t wait for everyone to see the spirit of the African continent.”

Adding to the excitement is the fact that this will be the first time the Netball World Cup will be hosted on African soil. Great tickets are still available across many sessions to catch the teams in action at the CTICC where the tournament kicks off with two preliminary rounds, followed by the playoff matches.

The 16 qualified teams have been grouped into four pools of four. Following a draw conducted late last year, Pool A consists of 11-time champions Australia, as well as Tonga, Zimbabwe and Fiji. A match to look out for in this pool shapes as a rematch between Tonga and Zimbabwe who met in Sydney earlier this year at the PacificAus Series when Tonga took the honours.

Pool B contains England, Malawi, Scotland and Barbados. The tussle between Scotland and Barbados will be a good one to see while Malawi may push England closer than expected.

Pool C sees Jamaica, hosts South Africa, Wales and Sri Lanka vying for all-important points.

The key contest of stage one is in Session 11 on Saturday 30 th July when Jamaica will battle South Africa for what will likely be top spot in this pool.

Pool D has defending champions New Zealand, Uganda, Trinidad and Tobago and Singapore. Uganda is a side with tremendous talent and they may surprise, so New Zealand will need to be on their best form in that match-up on Day 2 in session 5.

Stage one of the preliminaries is contested in a round-robin format. The top three finishers in each group will progress to play a further 3 matches in stage two. Those teams from Groups A and B make up a new Group F. And the top three teams from Groups C and D form a new Group G.

Teams within Group F or G that have already played each other in stage one, carry the results from those matches through to stage two and don’t face off again.

Meanwhile, the teams that finished 4th in their pool form a new Group E and play a round-robin followed by play-off matches to determine places 13 to 16.

Back at the top of the pile, after the second stage matches have concluded, the teams finishing in the top two of Group F and G progress to the semi-finals, followed by the medal matches while those finishing lower down, play off for the minor places.

With so many enticing match-ups on offer, capacity crowds are expected at the CTICC in Cape Town and so fans are being encouraged to snap up tickets while they’re still available.

Details on tickets and travel packages and more information are all available on the official tournament website (www.nwc2023.org.za).

Photo: Cecilia Molokwane, President of Netball South Africa, shakes hands with Anroux Marais, Western Cape Minister Cultural Affairs at the handover of the Netball World Cup Trophy by Western Cape to the City of Cape Town on Friday. To the right is Cllr Patricia van der Ross, MMC of Community Services and Health of the City of Cape Town and Deputy Mayor of the City of Cape Town Ald. Eddie Andrews.

Credit: Gallo Images

Australia World Cup Team Announced

Origin Australian Diamonds 2023 Netball World Cup team announced

WORLD CUP TEAM ANNOUNCED

The Origin Australian Diamonds 2023 Netball World Cup team has been announced, with 12 athletes selected to travel to South Africa.

The 12-strong team, plus three reserves, is led by captain Liz Watson and vice captain Steph Wood.

The Diamonds, the reigning Commonwealth Games gold medallists, will start their 2023 Netball World Cup campaign on Friday 28 July against Zimbabwe.

Ruby Bakewell-Doran, Kate Moloney and Donnell Wallam have been selected as the traveling reserves.

The Origin Australian Diamonds 2023 Netball World Cup team was selected by Marinkovich and national selectors Anne Sargeant OAM and Michelle Wilkins.

2023 Origin Australian Diamonds World Cup team

Sunday Aryang (West Coast Fever/Western Australia)

Kiera Austin (Melbourne Vixens/New South Wales)

Ash Brazill (Collingwood Magpies/New South Wales)

Courtney Bruce (West Coast Fever/Western Australia)

Sophie Garbin (Collingwood Magpies/Western Australia)

Paige Hadley (NSW Swifts/New South Wales)

Sarah Klau (NSW Swifts/South Australia)

Cara Koenen (Sunshine Coast Lightning/Queensland)

Jamie-Lee Price (GIANTS Netball/New South Wales)

Liz Watson (Melbourne Vixens/Victoria)

Joanna Weston (Melbourne Vixens/Victoria)

Steph Wood (Sunshine Coast Lightning/Queensland)

Reserves

Ruby Bakewell-Doran (Queensland Firebirds/Queensland)

Kate Moloney (Melbourne Vixens/Victoria)

Donnell Wallam (Queensland Firebirds/Western Australia)

Fiji names its VNWC 2023 Squad

Fiji names its Netball World Cup 2023 SquaD

Current World Ranking: 19th

Netball World Cup highlights: Fiji have competed at nine Netball World Cup’s, with their best finish coming at the Christchurch 1999 World Championships, when they finished in 6th place. At the most recent Netball World Cup, Liverpool 2019, the Fiji Pearls finished in 14th place. 

Road to Cape Town: Fiji finished 2nd at the Netball World Cup Qualifiers – Oceania (NWCQ – Oceania), to qualify for the Vitality Netball World Cup 2023. The hosts of the NWCQ Oceania, beat Cook Islands 34-51 in their final match of the qualifiers to ensure they booked their place in Cape Town.

 

Jamaica announce their VNWC2023 squad

JAMAICA ANNOUNCE THEIR VNWC2023 SQUAD

Netball Jamaica has announced the 15-member squad that will represent Jamaica at the highly anticipated 2023 Vitality Netball World Cup in South Africa.

Ranked fourth globally by World Netball, Jamaica’s netball team secured automatic qualification for the tournament, solidifying its reputation as one of the world’s top netball nations. 

‘SA can win medal’ – 2019 MVP Pretorius

"sa can win-medal" - 2019 mvp pretorius

Netball stars around the world are wrapping up their final preparations ahead of the Vitality Netball World Cup 2023, which gets under way next month in Cape Town.

One player who is relishing the prospect of performing in front of a home crowd if selected for South Africa is Karla Pretorius – the world-renowned defender who claimed the Most Valuable Player accolade at the last Netball World Cup, Liverpool 2019.

Since then she has given birth to her first child, a daughter Kara, and made a return to the court for her first season back with the Sunshine Coast Lightning in Australia’s Suncorp Super Netball league.

“I’ve really valued the time that I had away from netball and coming back I was really excited and looking forward to the challenge, but also just playing again,” she said of her return to the court.

“Up to now, I’ve thoroughly enjoyed playing again, which is a good sign that one should continue doing it.” 

Pretorius looks back with pride on the last Netball World Cup in 2019 when the Proteas enjoyed an impressive run to the semi-finals, where they very narrowly lost out on a place in the final to Australia.

“It was a great honour being named player of the tournament. 

“Obviously you go out and just focus on the processes as you want to be the best you can be for your team,” said the 33-year-old. 

“I know back then it was just doing the work and doing what I could control and then when you get awards like that it’s really just special. 

“It is obviously a great honour to have received it, knowing I’m South African and knowing that I’m representing so much more than myself,” added Pretorius, who explained the secret behind her success. 

“I think what makes a good defender is someone who can adapt to whatever is presented. Knowing that netball is a very attacking game, you need to react to what the attackers give you, so it’s adapting but also dictating, if I can say it like that – adapting in order to counter them.”

While Pretorius is looking forward to hopefully being given the chance to perform in front of family and friends, she’s also been telling her Aussie teammates what they can expect from a first Netball World Cup to ever be held on African soil.

“Some of the things I’ve been telling my Australian teammates is just that it’s going to be very different to what they’ve experienced in other countries. 

“I think in South Africa we have that diverse feeling of different cultures and it’s going to be very loud. It’s definitely going to be something that they haven’t experienced before,” she said.

Pretorius is also thrilled with what a home Netball World Cup can do for the sport in South Africa.

“I think it’s great for women in sport that South Africa is hosting the Vitality Netball World Cup 2023. If you look at the Cricket World Cup that took place earlier this year, I think it just shows how much it means for women in sport. 

“And this time around it’s going to be the same and then taking it even further for the game of netball. It’s good to just get the awareness out there and bring a lot of hope to women in sport, also allowing the opportunity for it to grow even further.”

As for what the Proteas can achieve at the Vitality Netball World Cup 2023, Pretorius’s response was short and to the point: “I definitely think we can end up on the podium.”

The Proteas will begin their campaign on 28 July against Wales before also facing Sri Lanka and Jamaica in the first preliminary stage. The World Cup 2023 runs from 28 July to 6 August at the Cape Town International Convention Centre.