Team South Africa 2023 congratulate Liverpool on Vitality Netball World Cup

Media Statement: Team South Africa 2023 congratulate Liverpool on Vitality Netball World Cup

Liverpool, United Kingdom: Team South Africa 2023 (Team South Africa) have congratulated Liverpool on hosting a very successful tournament and said that they were looking forward to picking up the mantle as the next hosts of the Netball World Cup.

In a media briefing hosted by Team South Africa with the international media and dignitaries from the International Netball Federation (INF) on Friday, Team South Africa showcased Cape Town as the next Netball World Cup (2023) host city.

The South African delegation has attended the observer programme during the week, and will incorporate the knowledge gained in the process to ensure that we deliver a uniquely African World Cup in 2023.

Cape Town and South Africa have built a strong reputation in hosting major international events and sporting spectacles including rugby, cricket and football world cups.

Adding the Netball World Cup to that list is special because it is the first time that the largest women’s sporting event is hosted on African soil.

The Cape Town International Convention Centre, in the heart of the iconic City of Cape Town, is renowned for hosting major events and will add this spectacle in 2023. Surrounded by hotels, world-class shopping and leisure facilities, it is the perfect host venue for the Netball World Cup.

“There is a lot of hard work and preparations that will take place over the four years, however we are confident in Cape Town’s strong track record of hosting a variety of big events and that is why we have been voted the World’s Leading Festival and Event Destination. We have excellent infrastructure, world-class facilities, a magnificent airport, a top-notch hospitality industry, diverse cultures and a sports mad nation that will ensure that we deliver a truly African Netball World Cup,” said the City of Cape Town’s Mayco Member for Safety and Security JP Smith.

“Cape Town is an attractive destination, so we will promote our World Cup to all the netball and sporting fans and encourage them to not only watch the top-class netball action, but discover Cape Town and the Western Cape's beauty, cultural diversity and many tourist attractions. The tournament will also serve as a window into South Africa and Africa for the fans to explore before or after the Netball World Cup” continued Smith.

Through their performances in the 2019 tournament, the African countries; South Africa, Uganda, Zimbabwe and Malawi have shown that there’s an appetite for the sport on the continent. 

Netball South Africa President, Cecilia Molokwane said that the 2023 World Cup was not only for Cape Town, the Western Cape and South Africa but for Africa as a whole. “We as South Africa have an obligation to help the INF develop the game throughout Africa. Africa is a sleeping netball giant and already we have four teams from African in the world’s top ten ranked nations. Netball South Africa and the Team South Africa 2023 have committed to the promotion, development and growth of the game throughout the continent.”

As a global sport, Netball is a catalyst that could provide an opportunity for the millions of young girls aspiring to play on an international level such as this.

Western Cape Minister of Cultural Affairs and Sport, Anroux Marais said that her government was excited to partner with the City of Cape Town, national Government and Netball South Africa in the winning bid process. “Netball is an important sporting code in the Western Cape and our commitment through winning the 2023 World Cup will be to increase our netball regions, our netball participation and give so many more young girls the chance to play the beautiful game and assist them on a path to becoming future SPAR Proteas” said Marais.

During the medal ceremony at the packed M&S Bank Arena in Liverpool on Sunday, Karla Pretorius was honoured as Player of the 2019 Vitality Netball World Cup. Minister Marais added, “Even though the spirited Spar Proteas fell short of the 2019 Netball World Cup podium finish, we are exceptionally proud of their stellar performance and wholeheartedly applaud Karla Pretorius on being named the player of the tournament”.

“I feel very honoured to have been named the best player of the World Cup. You are only as good as those around you and the team did so well at this World Cup, and even though we won’t return home to South Africa with a medal, I know that we all put our hearts and souls into each and every game in Liverpool and can hold our heads high. This good run obviously was what inspired me to play as well as I did and I am grateful to have been recognised by the tournament and given this very special award” said Pretorius.

The last South African to win the same award was Erin Burger, who was given the award in 2011 in Singapore, and who happened to be Pretorius' touring roommate in this tournament.