Mthembu says Phumza Maweni will bring “something fresh” to Baby Proteas set up

By Ayanda Nyuswa

Newly appointed South Africa Under 21 Netball coach Precious Mthembu believes her assistant Phumza Maweni will bring “Something fresh” to the team and be a good role model to the young girls. Mthembu and Maweni have been trusted to steer the Baby Proteas ship, after the departure of Jenny Van Dyk who is now the head coach of the South African Senior Netball team, the Spar Proteas. The 38 year old Mthembu made 97 appearences for the Senior team, and takes on the coaching role after serving as assistant to Dr Elsje Jordaan and Jenny Van Dyk.

Maweni, Spar Proteas defensive stalward who notched up 121 caps for the national team, takes over as assistant coach of the Baby Proteas after retiring from the Proteas team in 2023. Mthembu believes the Proteas legend will bring fresh ideas into the set up having recently stepped away from the game as a player.

“She will bring something fresh, she just came off the court and that freshness is something that definitely needs to be passed on to the players and to me as well,” said Mthembu speaking to Extratime Unlocked on Gagasi FM.

“She is going to bring that role model side into the girls, you know the girls have looked up to her and they will listen to her. She has experience playing against Australia and New Zealand, it is not something she did 10 or 5 years ago, she did it recently as a World Cup player. So hopefully the freshness of coming from the court into coaching, I am excited to share ideas with her and take these girls to another level, take them into the World Cup,” Mthembu added.

The two coaches first task is to lead the Baby Proteas in the African qualifiers for the 2025 Netball Youth World Cup, which will take place in Pretoria over the weekend.

Picture: Sky Sports