Trio to stick with TASC after impressive World Cup
Koketso Kgoboge | Friday July 28, 2017 14:41
Amantle Never, Cheludo David and Kgomotso Matibini caught the eyes of netball giants both locally and internationally, but the trio said they would only leave TASC for an opportunity abroad.
Never (16) said she has been approached by BDF Cats although nothing concrete has been brought to the table yet. She said, however, her loyalty lies with her current club.
Never said some members of the Australian team also approached her and referred all enquiries to her national team coaches.
The Form Four student at Mater Spei College said at the moment she is concentrating on her studies after missing two months of school while in camp.
“I don’t want to worry much about netball at the moment. I am focussed on covering up for the lost time on my school work,” she said.
“I want to complete my studies and I will see where netball takes me after that but certainly, I will not be joining any local side. TASC is my home.”
Never who started netball while a standard three pupil at Chadibe North Primary School in her home village, said the World Cup will go down as the highlight of her netball career.
She said after rubbing shoulders with players who compete in the best leagues, she believes she has what it takes to compete at the highest level.
“I had a beautiful experience and my game has grown. I am more mature now than before. I have played with some of the best players who participate in the best leagues in the world.”
David, 19, whose netball career started just two years ago after TASC spotted her in basketball courts also said she will brush off interests from local clubs and would only listen to interest from abroad.
It took her one season to be recognised locally and she was immediately selected into the local Under-21 side and was the preferred shooter for Botswana at the NWYC.
“I have interests from Australia and negotiations are still at tender stages, but if it materialises I would be astonished,” she said.
“Otherwise I am not interested in playing elsewhere in the country than at TASC, besides locally netball is not a sport that can sustain the life of an individual.”
“I must admit though that I had a splendid time with my teammates during the World Cup and the camp particularly in Australia.”
Kgomotso Matibini, a goal defender who had to be withdrawn from the final squad after she fell sick, said she has also drawn interest from clubs in Australia during their tour of the Oceania country. Matibini was also the captain of the team in the qualifiers.
“I can’t say much. I did not play because I was sick, but I took part in the friendly games prior to the World Cup.
“I always do my best and I have been told there are teams that are interested in my services in Australia, but that is with the team manager Lorato Thebekgosi and she will be in a good position to comment, otherwise just like my teammates I don’t see myself moving from TASC to any team locally,” she said.
Efforts to reach Thebekgosi were futile as she was said to be out of the country.