The Madibaz women’s water polo team will be aiming to transform a series of competitive results into a medal-winning position at the University Sport South Africa tournament this weekend.
The event is at the Joan Harrison Complex in East London from Saturday to Monday.
Madibaz Sport water polo manager Melinda Goosen said there was a strong thread of commitment running through the squad and they were determined to prove a point on this national stage.
“In recent years our women’s side have consistently made the semifinals, but we have usually ended fourth overall,” she said.
“This year our goal is to win a medal. There are a number of new faces, with half the team about to experience their first USSA tournament, but there is a very good work ethic.
“Academic commitments play a big role in the availability of our players, especially in the Currie Cup tournament.
“But the players are fully committed and have been training up to three times a day. It’s crucial for us to do well as we are looking for a major sponsor to back the club.
“We have the players and structures, but the team have to organise music trivia evenings and special events to help raise money to compete in the Currie Cup and USSA.”
Goosen said players such as Meghan Maartens, Casey McLeavy, Charne Keen, Hannah Werth, Kelsey Vaughan, Mirricke du Plessis and Nina Cressey would provide the experience, while their biggest challenge was a lack of tournament match practice.
“UCT and Maties play in a very competitive league in the Western Cape. Unfortunately, our Bay competition isn’t of the same standard.
“We do attend the Currie Cup as a club and not a province. NMU and Maties are the only club sides in the women’s division of the Currie Cup and all the other teams are provinces against which we compete.”
She said Madibaz would also send a men’s team to USSA, where the focus would be on learning because it was almost a completely new outfit.