NWU netball star ready for Commonwealth Games

Included in the Protea netball squad to represent South Africa at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham from 28 July is North-West University’s (NWU) own shooting sensation, Elmeré van der Berg (21).

The South African team was announced on 15 July.

Van der Berg has been making her mark on the South African netball scene since her first call-up to the national squad in 2021 and is already equally at home in the green and gold than in the purple strip of the NWU. “Every young netball player dreams of the day when she will be able to pull the Protea dress over her head,” Van der Berg said.

An initial group of 15 of South Africa’s best netball players was announced on 5 June, whereafter three of the players were cut from the group, narrowing it down to 12.

Before the final squad selection, Van der Berg said: “Of course, it is not nice that players will be left out. However, if I am one of them I know that there is a bigger plan.” Van der Berg’s “bigger plan” ended up being closer to reality than she thought when she found out that she would be part of the final group that will participate in the Commonwealth Games.

Van der Berg was also included in another big announcement that Netball South Africa made in June, when they released the names of 24 players who would receive contracts.

This means that netball in South Africa will, from now on, also be regarded as a professional sport for which the player may earn a salary. “This new leaf for netball in South Africa will motivate up-and-coming players as well as develop the depth of the sport in the country,” Van der Berg said.

The Proteas were drawn in group A, alongside former gold medalists and world number 1, Australia, as well as rivals, Jamaica, Scotland, Wales and Barbados.