JOHANNESBURG – Scores of schoolgirls from schools in and around Cape Town will benefit from the World University Netball Championships (WUNC) Legacy programme next month when the competing teams conduct coaching clinics at the University of Cape Town (UCT) and at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) on Sunday July 1.
Primary school players will attend the coaching clinics from 9am to 11am in the morning and the high schools from 11am to 1pm.
The participating schools were nominated by the Western Province Schools Netball Union as being particularly worthy of extra attention. Most of the schools are from deprived areas with few sports facilities. The WUNC mascot, Pukkie, will distribute t-shirts and snack packs to all those attending the coaching clinics.
“The Legacy programme is a very important part of the WUNC,” said tournament director Helene Botha. “Players at that level are very focussed on high performance, and coaching players at grass roots level reminds them of why they love to play the game,” she said.
“They are reminded of their passion for netball, and the clinics give them the opportunity to give something back to the game.”
Botha said much of the Legacy programme would be devoted to skills training, with emphasis on defence and attack. She said meeting players who have reached a high level of performance would inspire the youngsters attending the clinics. “I think they will see the opportunities that working hard at the game can open up,” said Botha.
The organisers are encouraging as many schools and clubs in and around Cape Town to come to watch the tournament, and ticket prices have been kept low. Adults pay R20 and children younger than 12 pay R10.
The tournament will be played at the Good Hope Centre from July 2 to 7. Teams from eight countries will be taking part, with Zimbabwe’s late entry being approved by the International University Sports Federation.
(Source: Natasha Marot, OC)
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