Tuks' netball team won't give up the USSA title easily

Winning a title is easy; defending it can be troublesome, but that is the type of challenge that the Tuks netball team loves.

Both Tuks coach Amanda Mynhardt and captain Caroline Paul are quietly confident that the team has what it takes to retain the USSA Netball title. The tournament begins on Monday in Gqeberha.

In the past, Tuks has proved that giving up is not an option. Last year, in both the semi-final against Kovsies and the final against UJ, Tuks found themselves in the death throes, with their backs against the wall. But as it is said, when the going gets tough, the tough gets going. Tuks scored the winning goal against Kovsies in extra time. In the final against UJ, the winning goal was scored in the last 10 seconds.

That's why Mynhardt emphasises that the players must be competitive in every game.

"The USSA Tournament is always unpredictable. What will make things difficult on Monday is the fact that there will be indoor and outdoor play. The wind will impact the games played outdoors. We play four games in the first two days, which means it is essential to manage the players correctly."

Tuks will play their first game against Nelson Mandela University on Monday and in the afternoon against Kovsies. On Tuesday, they will play against Noordwes University, then Maties, and on Wednesday against UJ. The draw does not worry Paul.

"It is good that we will be tested on the first day. If you start the tournament playing easy games, it's easy to become overconfident. The game against Kovsies will be a real test. If it turns out to be a wake-up call to us, then it will be a good thing."

As to defending the title, Paul's honest answer was that "the ball is now in our court".

"We have got a good team. What is exciting is the youngsters in our team. When you are young, you don't hold back because you have got something to prove. That's to show that you belong on the court. So you are fearless."

Listening to Paul, it sounds as if she was born to be a captain. This is her fifth year playing for Tuks. She made her Varsity Netball debut in 2020. As is the case with many young players, she was at first more on the bench than on the court. The fact that she didn't play didn't mean she wasn't involved in the game.

"I still remember that first game against UJ in 2020. I followed and analysed every moment of the game, encouraging my teammates from the bench. When I got the chance to play, I knew immediately what to do.

"It doesn't matter to me whether I'm the captain or not. All that matters is that, as a team, we give our all. It comes naturally to me to make my teammates believe that they are the best and that no game is lost until the referee blows his whistle for the last time."