Wits first team netballer, Simone van Reenen, is aiming high as she is selected to play for the Limpopo Baobabs.
Bachelor of Arts student Simone van Reenen has been selected to play for the Limpopo Baobabs in the Netball Premier League (NPL), the country’s biggest netball league.
The 18-year-old is the first player from Wits Netball Club to be selected for the NPL.
“[Van Reenen] has a quiet personality and her opponents often underestimate her because of that, but I can see a great future for her,” said Marguerite Rootman, the Wits coach. “She is a hard worker and is totally passionate about netball. I think she deserves this opportunity.”
Van Reenen is doing her psychology and sociology studies part-time to ensure her time on the court will not interfere with her studies. She dreams of playing the sport professionally.
“I love playing netball because it keeps me fit and it’s a team sport,” said Van Reenen. “I want to inspire people to play netball … and to keep trying if they are failing.”
Van Reneen plays as goal defence and goalkeeper for the Wits Netball Club first team, alongside her teammate and high school friend Jolize Beukman.
Beukman said Van Reenen is an excellent player who has a lot of talent. “She will fight for every ball and her timing is great. It doesn’t matter how many times we may miss the goal, she will always give her 110% to get the ball back to us.”
Rootman, who is also a Limpopo Baobabs coach, suggested Van Reenen try out. Rootman says that she hopes Wits will have more players in the provincial teams.
The Wits Netball Club is currently sixth in the University Sport South Africa National Institutional Netball Championship B division.
“It will give other players hope if they can see that a player from Wits, which is not a high profile university when it comes to netball, can make it to the big leagues,” said Rootman.
The NPL is the biggest female sporting championship in the country. The semi-professional league is contested by 10 teams from South Africa’s nine provinces.
The NPL will be held from May to June 2019.
FEATURED IMAGE: Wits first team netballer, Simone van Reenen, set to play in the Netball Premier League, South Africa’s biggest netball championship event. Photo: Provided.
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