Khanyisa Chawane excited about second World Cup appearance

By Charles Baloyi
19th February 2023

Proteas centre Khanyisa Chawane made her World Cup debut in Liverpool as the youngest player in the Proteas squad in 2019 at the age of 23.

Chawane was thrown into the deep end with little experience and says she was a bit nervous playing on the big stage after just playing in the U21 Netball World Cup in Botswana in 2017.

Four years later, at the age of 27, Chawane is one of the most experienced players and is tipped to play a vital role for the team in her second World Cup appearance.

She has played over 50 international caps, and her main highlight was helping the Proteas to finish fourth at the 2019 World Cup in the United Kingdom.

The much-anticipated Vitality 2023 World Cup takes place at the International Convention Centre in Cape Town from 28 July to 6 August.

“I was introduced to the national team in 2018 and I was coming from the under21 World Cup that was hosted in Botswana in 2017. And after that having to come into the national team, I had really big shoes to fill at that moment, that's when I was a youngster but coming in there, I don't really think I was treated as a youngster. I had to play with people that had been within the national setup. I think that really contributed to the player that I am today," she said.

Chawane is attending a two-week training camp with the Proteas in Melbourne, Australia.

Now a regular in the Proteas squad, Chawane told SABC Sport that she could not contain the excitement of playing in front of her home crowd knowing that her family will be able to come and support her during games.

"Playing the World Cup in 2019, we were away from home, our families could only watch on the screen so we could feel the support but it was very far away. Right now, that the world cup is in our country, it's just a great feeling to know that all our families and supporters are going to feel the electrifying vibe of the netball world cup live. So that is just exciting," she added.

The Proteas signed a historic three-year wellness partnership with Discovery offering the players medical aid and a bank account two weeks ago. And Chawane hopes the sponsorship is the beginning of good things to come for the players beyond the World Cup.

"I'm really happy that such steps are being taken for netball. Yes, we are supporting women sport but netball has always been at the back where we didn't have such resources. Now that Discovery is coming in with this bank account and medical aid, we feel protected, we feel supported and well taken care of. I just hope that brings longevity in netball and it's not only because of the world cup," she concluded.