2012 WUC Update: Cape Town ready to Host Inaugural WUC Netball

CAPE TOWN – South Africa has been chosen to host the first ever World University Netball Championships (WUNC), to be held at the Good Hope Centre in Cape Town from July 2 to 7.

“This is a great honour for South Africa and will do much to develop the sport in this country,” said FISU Technical Chair: Netball, Helene Botha.  “It will also enhance South Africa’s image as a preferred host of international sports events.”

Twelve countries will take part, although all 163 FISU affiliated countries have been invited to enter. The final 12 will be decided by the International Federation of Netball Associations, IFNA. 

The 12 teams will be divided into three pools, with the top two teams in each pool qualifying for the Elite Six. The cross-pool matches and quarter-finals will be played on one day, with the semifinals and final being played the next day. Countries tipped to be in the final group are Great Britain (ranked 3^rd in the IFNA world netball rankings); Jamaica (ranked 4^th); South Africa (ranked 6^th); Fiji (ranked 7^th); Barbados (ranked 9^th); Northern Ireland (ranked 12^th); Botswana (ranked 16^th); Malaysia (ranked 22^nd); Namibia (ranked 24^th); USA; Zimbabwe; and Uganda.

The Good Hope Centre has been selected as the venue because it can accommodate two wooden court floors next to each other. It also has all the facilities required by IFNA and FISU, and has ample seating for spectators. The WUNC will be preceded by the University Sport South Africa (USSA) netball championships.

 Andile Majeke, President of USSA, says that the WUNC is a great opportunity to show the world what South Africa is made of; “As the first National University Sport Federation to host this championship, we are indeed proud and excited to be the stage on which history will be written. Once again this is evidence that Africa can do all that can be done by any other continent. With all the support from local organisations, the Confederation of University and College Sports Associations (CUCSA) and the Federation of African University Sports (FASU), the world will have an experience of a life time.”

“Student netball is the backbone of South Africa’s provincial and national teams,” said Botha. “Netball is the most popular woman’s sport in South Africa – and globally – and hosting a tournament of this standard in South Africa will enable student players to experience international netball in their own backyard.  Even those who are not playing will benefit from being involved in the organisation of the tournament.

“The tournament will also provide the community of Cape Town and the surrounding areas to experience netball at a very high level.”

Botha said coaches and teams from the 12 participating countries would also conduct coaching clinics in and around Cape Town, as part of USSA’s goal of developing sport at grassroots level.

(Source: USSA)