SOUTH Africa SPAR Proteas have named their 14-player squad for next month’s 2022 Quad Series tournament in England. Though the squad will be without star talent Karla Pretorius after the defender announced her pregnancy, the SPAR Proteas have plenty of players to watch.

The loss of Pretorius and shooter Lenize Potgieter does leave the side a little less experienced. Defender Phumza Maweni and shooter Ine-Mari Venter the sole players with Suncorp Super Netball (SSN) experience. Maweni will be joined by Zanele Vimbela in defence, while towering goal shooter Sigrid Burger is set to start alongside Venter up the other end. The midcourt will feature Bongi Msomi who will captain the side. Khanyisa Chawane and Izette Griesel will round out the midcourt.

The depth in the shooting circle is the most prominent. Lefébre Rademan was named in there alongside Elmere van der Berg and Jessica du Plessis. In midcourt, Tshinakaho Mdau is the other name in there, whilst in defence, Simoné Rabie, Monique Reyneke and Nicola Smith round out the 14-player squad.

SOUTH AFRICA 2022 QUAD SERIES SQUAD:

• Sigrid Burger
• Ine-Mari Venter
• Lefebre Rademan
• Elmere van der Berg
• Jessica du Plessis
• Khanyisa Chawane
• Izette Griesel
• Tshinakaho Mdau
• Bongiwe Msomi (Captain)
• Simone Rabie
• Monique Reyneke
• Phumza Maweni
• Nicola Smith
• Zanele Vimbela

SPAR Proteas head coach Dorette Badenhorst chose the squad following a week’s training camp in Stellenbosch. Badenhorst said the team would travel to London in early January to prepare for the Quad Series and acclimatise to the weather. Badenhorst said it would be great for the non-South African based players to join their teammates once they arrive in London.

“I am very happy with the work that the players put in during the training camp, it was also unfortunate that we could not have our UK based players due to travel restrictions however the intensity and hard work rate that came out from the ones we had here was impressive,” she said to the Netball South Africa website.

“Quad Series is a clash between the medal contenders for Commonwealth Games and for that reason I see no better preparation than this tournament. “As a team we want to perform very well at this tournament, and I am looking forward to seeing how our new players will fare against top nations in the world and seeing how our combinations will work. “This is a preparation for Commonwealth Games for us.”