Four Maties netball players travelled to Botswana last week to participate in a qualifying tournament for the U/21 Netball World Youth Cup.

South Africa won all its matches and qualified to participate in next year's tournament.

Jo Prins, Stephanie Brandt, Sasha-Lee Petersen and Charmaine Baard were also part of the SA U/21 group that played in a test series against Wales. South Africa won all their matches convincingly.

Charmaine described the qualifying tournament as an unbelievable experience.

“We played seven matches and won all seven. Only a few teams can achieve that and we are honoured to have been part of this experience. We were tested physically and mentally and that's what made it a fantastic experience.

“The team played well together, but it was really a great feeling to look at the player next to you and see a Matie,” she added.

Taking part in the qualifying tournament last week however meant that the four stalwarts were not available to play for their club in the super league final of the Cape Winelands Region last Thursday (28 July).

Vics played against another Stellenbosch team, Van der Stel, and lost by five points. The final score was 51-46.

Van der Stel is a very strong team with a number of former Proteas and ex-Maties players.

Maties Netbal Club is very proud of the players who were included in the Southern Stings, SA U/21 and USSA groups this year. The latter participated in the World Universities Netball tournament in July and came out tops.

The focus of the Maties players now shift to the Varsity Netball competition starting on 5 September. Maties finished second in last year's competition.