Netball SA to unveil a new coach after the World Cup

NSA CEO Blanche de la Guerre confirmed to SABC Sport that Plummer will not continue with her role as the head coach after the tournament and would be replaced by a local coach.

Plummer has no contract with NSA and gets paid on a consultancy basis in her second spell as the head coach of the Proteas.

The 77-year-old Australian-born mentor coached the Proteas in her first spell from 2017-2019, guiding them to the semi-final of the World Cup in Liverpool four years ago.

“Plummer has no contract with the NSA, but has a written agreement with us. She will stay a month or two and hand over the reins to the new coach after the World Cup. Plummer would groom the new coach from Australia. Her request to NSA is to leave the job after the World Cup as she is aging. She is not getting younger. NSA will announce her replacement after the World Cup,” said De la Guerre.

Plummer was in the country to coach the Proteas during the Quad Series against the top three ranked countries in the world Australia, New Zealand, and England. 

The Proteas technical team and 15 players will join her in Melbourne, Australia, for a two-week training camp.

“The team leaves for Australia on 8 February to join the head coach in Melbourne. Plummer arranged a training camp with test matches against some of the best franchises in Australia. We will be in Melbourne for 14 days, and the trip will cost a couple of millions. We have eight players contracted with franchises overseas, and they will not travel with the squad. We are taking 15 players that do not have a contract with franchises overseas to give them game time,” explained De la Guerre.

De la Guerre said Netball SA would carry the costs of the tour to Australia with the help of their sponsors, Spar and Telkom.

“We will use the American dollar, and it’s an expensive trip, but luckily the sponsors will assist us with the costs. It is important to prepare the team with a few months to the World Cup,” said De la Guerre.

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

Plummer replaced Dorrette Bedenhorst as the new Proteas coach in November last year after joining the team as a consultant during the Commonwealth Games in August. 

Badenhorst threatened legal action after she got served with a letter of dismissal.

“We have not heard from Dorette since she was relieved of her coaching duties. We had an agreement with her and sorted out her contract. We wish her everything of the best in her future endeavours. We are happy with Plummer. She loves SA netball and its players,” concluded De la Guerre.

By Charles Baloyi