#TuksNetball: Ziegelmeier is not one to be messed with on a netball court

Posted on October 04, 2017

"Dr Jekyll and Miss Hyde" would be a good way to describe Jasmine Ziegelmeier's behaviour on and off a netball court.

The UP-Tuks goalkeeper has a reputation as someone not to mess with during a game as she gives as good as she gets on the court, but the moment the final whistle blows she wants to be friends again. Her motto is what happens on the court stays on the court. 

The Bcom Financial Sciences student sees her role as a goalkeeper to get into the heads of the opposition goalscorers. If at times it means that she needs to get a bit physical on the court so be it. 

"The opposition players are welcome to try and push me around on the court, but they should know the harder they push me the harder I will retaliate. I never back off during a game because my job is to disrupt the opposition when they are on the attack."

Ziegelmeier and Shadine van der Merwe (UP-Tuks captain and goal defence) proved themselves arguably to be one of the best defensive combinations in the Varsity Tournament. The goal difference in UP-Tuks last three games are showing it.

Ziegelmeier has high regards for Van der Merwe playing abilities.

"I think the mistake the opposition teams often make is to underestimate Shadine. She can jump deceptively high, and she got an uncanny ability to know what is going to happen before it happens that enables her too often intercept demoralising the opposition.

"I think part of our success on defence is that Shadine and I instinctively complement each other's way of play."

UP-Tuks will face against Northwest-Pukke on Monday in the Varsity-final.  It is bound to be a humdinger. In last year's final the team from Potchefstroom won by one goal. 

Northwest Pukke won the first Varsity encounter this season by beating UP-Tuks by 40-34. 

Ziegelmeier is quietly confident that she and her teammates will be able to "revenge" themselves on Monday.

"It is going to be a tough encounter; it always is because Northwest-Pukke is a very competitive side. But I think if we do our homework properly as we did before the semifinal game against Maties we are in with a definite chance to win."

Ziegelmeier's defensive skills have not gone unnoticed. Earlier this year she represented South Africa at the Under-21 World Cup Tournament in Botswana.

By playing netball, Ziegelmeier is continuing a proud family tradition.

"The women in our family tend to be quite tall, and we got long arms which is a definite advantage when playing netball."

One of Ziegelmeier's favourite ways to relax and recharge her "batteries" is a breakaway to their family farm in the Northern Cape. 

She even once shot a blesbok but the ritual she had to undergo after the kill made her rethink about her hunting career. To be smeared with blood and to swallow a piece of raw liver is not quite her idea of fun. She now just acts as a "taxi driver" for aspirant hunters.

 

- Author Wilhelm de Swardt

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