Proteas intent on podium finish

THE Proteas netball side are on a mission to restore the nation's pride in them, starting with the 20th edition of the Commonwealth Games.

Team vice captain Bongiwe Msomi said they wanted a podium finish at this event, which will take place in Scotland from July 23 to August 3.

Msomi said the 12- team tournament would also assist them a great deal in preparing for the 2015 World Cup in Australia, where they also hoped to do well.

For the Commonwealth Games, South Africa are in pool B with England (ranked third in the world), Trinidad & Tobago (ninth), Wales (eighth) as well as Barbados (10th).

Ranked fifth by the Federation of International Netball Associations, South Africa start their campaign on July 25 against Trinidad & Tobago.

"We are happy with the teams in our group. We have a good team," Msomi, who also works as a coach at Northlands Park Primary School in Port Elizabeth, said.

"We also did well in Cape Town last week, winning the test series against Scotland 3-0, which saw us move from sixth to fifth place in the rankings.

"We will also have to get together again before going to Scotland to work on the final touch- ups. I'm confident we will come back with a medal, but I'm not sure about the colour.

"There must be consistency.

"We also want to do well at the World Cup. The new Brutal Fruit Cup will also help us a lot to play competitively netball regularly."

The last time the Proteas won a medal at a global event was bronze at the 1995 World Championships, where they finished third after defeating England.

South Africa will be one of two African countries at the Commonwealth Games, along with sixth-ranked Mala- wi, who are in Pool A. - Ramatsiyi Moholoa