Newcomers Varsity College ready for Varsity Netball challenge

Varsity College will make their much anticipated debut in the 2025 edition of Varsity Netball and it will be a baptism of fire when the whistle is blown on the first bumper weekend of Varsity Netball 2025 at the Maties Coetzenburg Indoor Centre in Stellenbosch.

The newcomers will begin their campaign facing powerhouse NWU (Sunday 24 August, 15:00), before meeting former champions UP-Tuks in another challenging encounter (Monday 25 August, 15:00).

Pic via @vcsportlife

Head coach Janine du Toit says they worked hard to get into the top tier of Varsity Netball for the first time, and they are excited for the 2025 competition.

“The team must give their best at all time. We have the skills, determination and heart to take on every match to the best of our abilities. The players are very excited and nervous for the unknown. The Varsity Netball platform is huge compared to other competition and matches we have played.”

She added the team followed a training schedule and worked in training matches to prepare.

“The team is really a very good mixture of various levels of players. I have experienced players in the squad that is familiar with high level participation. We are a fairly new team that is being built for future participation. The first years gel together nicely with the older players to form a team dynamic.

“The younger players are still developing, and they are really players to look out for come 2026. Amara Agbai, Adri Kannemeyer and Sikanyiso Mtshwepe can be regarded as star players.”

Du Toit says Varsity Netball is incredibly important for the development of players that feed into the national team.

“There is a huge shortage of high-level participation for younger players. One or two tournaments and year at a championship does not give the exposure needed for players to develop and perform, and the level of competition differs from match to match.

“By playing Varsity Netball, you get the high-level exposure for players to development, for players to start thinking on court, for players to start working towards a higher personal goal. Personal growth of players also happen as they need to step up where and when it is needed.”

Varsity College provisional squad (subject to change):

 Adri Kannemeyer, Robyn Hathaway, Andrea Van der Merwe, Casey Weber, Sara Feintuch, Olukemi Amarachi Akuma Agbai, Elzaan Smith, Allison Nola Beck, Victoria Jo-Anne Diamond, Sikanyiso Mtshwepe, Stacey-Lee Feris, Caitlin Rose Cunningham, Lumanye Makhobotloane, Isabella de Vincenzo, Liane Hanekom,Kaitlin Barnard.

Full fixture list HERE.

More information on tickets HERE.