Retired Netball legends Bongiwe Msomi and Phumza Maweni get a new role

President of Netball South Africa (NSA) Cecilia Molokwane has officially announced that the duo, who retired in December, has assumed new roles as selectors for the Proteas Under-21 national team.

Their primary responsibility will be to choose the squad that will compete in the upcoming African qualifiers, set to be hosted by NSA at the University of Pretoria later this year.

This qualification tournament serves as a stepping stone for the youth World Cup scheduled to take place in Gibraltar in 2025.

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“No, no, the two legends are not lost to the game. That is the narrative that I want to change,” said Molokwane, the first lady of South African netball, in an interview with SABC Sport.

“Bongi is a coach, and Phumza is a coach too. I know that they are part of the Under-21 selectors of the national team. From now on going forward, we cannot lose players that represented their country for aplomb for many years. I want to make sure that legends are taken care of and given something to keep themselves busy when they retire,”

The Proteas Under-21 team is currently in training camp, gearing up for the Africa qualifiers, with Msomi and Maweni playing a crucial role in the team selection process, as highlighted by Molokwane.

The World Cup in Cape Town and the Africa World Cup qualifiers were successfully organized by the NSA at the University of Pretoria in 2023. Molokwane expressed their enthusiasm for hosting another event seizing the opportunity to organize the Under-21 qualifiers. Assuring the African continent, she pledged a remarkable and unforgettable display.

“Last year, the global spotlight was on South Africa, and we extended warm hospitality to the world. Now, it’s our turn to highlight the burgeoning young talent within the African continent. We are fully prepared to host another significant event, keeping in mind the Under-21 players will eventually ascend to the senior ranks. The emphasis is on developing these players for the senior teams, and it all kicks off in Tshwane come July,” Molokwane emphasized.