Maties celebrate 100 years at Varsity Netball 2026

Collecting their first Varsity Netball title in 2022, going through the competition as the only undefeated team that year, Maties is ready to get their hands on a second trophy as Maties Netball celebrates 100 years in 2026.

For a player representing Maties in Varsity Netball 2026 during such a significant year, captain Lize Rossouw says the occasion carries an added sense of pride.

“Reaching 100 years is an amazing milestone and (it’s a) privilege to be a part of a club that consistently puts the athletes' needs above everything.”

With a proud history behind them, Rossouw believes the current players have a responsibility to embrace the occasion during Varsity Netball 2026 while continuing to build on the legacy established by those who wore the Maties dress before them.

"Make your own history and be grateful to be a part of something that has been here for decades. I know we as a team will do our absolute best to keep the Maties' name high.”

Maties assistant coach Jo Prins understands the journey from a deeply personal perspective. She has experienced the programme as a Varsity Netball player, captain, award winner and now coach, making her connection to the centenary celebration particularly meaningful.

“To be able to come back and contribute to a programme that played such an important role in shaping me as a person and as an athlete is something I don’t take for granted. It feels incredibly full circle," Prins says.

For Prins, the centenary represents the generations who have contributed to the programme and the responsibility carried by every player who takes to the court in the Maties dress.

“You are not just playing for yourself, but you are adding your own chapter to a story that started 100 years ago and will hopefully continue for another 100.”

Current Proteas assistant coach Zanele Mdodana was at the helm when the Maroon Machine lifted the Varsity Netball trophy in 2022. She joined the Maties coaching staff in 2017 and says she knew she was stepping into a programme that carried immense prestige.

"It was really a great honour for me to form part of Maties’ coaching staff and to be able to lead and be at the helm of the high-performance netball programme."

For Mdodana, however, the significance of 100 years extends far beyond trophies, results and performances on court. It is about the impact the programme has had on the lives of those who have passed through its doors and have participated in competitions like Varsity Netball.

“I think 100 years speaks to a legacy and players' lives that have been changed, and just the positive way in which students' lives have ultimately been changed for the better. And it's been the work done by Maties Netball and the structure and the systems that have been put in place to give a student athlete a better chance at life.”

By: Ayanda Frances Felem