For every heartbreak and injury devastation there is a player who has an opportunity and in my opinion Panagarry, Guscoth & Williams are deserved call ups for the Agbeze, Gibson and Cobden shaped holes from Commonwealth Gold 2018. They’re the future and as with every 4 year cycle, there will be Roses retirements at the end of World Cup 2019. We need to expose those coming through, to this level of competition, so we can continue our quest to be the best!
Attention will soon turn to our first World Cup game, which will be no pushover as we take on Uganda in the opening match. Any side featuring Peace Proscovia is going to be a threat and if nothing else we’ll see very early on who Tracey Neville’s starting 7 will be!
It’s still 49 days away (!) but my prediction would be Mentor, Guscoth, Clarke, Guthrie, Pitman, Housby & Harten. I personally prefer Haythornthwaite at WA but I’m a lowly UKCC Level 2 coach not doing a heap loads of practical at the moment - so I bow down to those far more knowledgable and not ‘coaching’ from the sofa!
I look forward to the build up to the World Cup in Liverpool with one eye on the media and marketing campaign. We have a HUGE opportunity, not just for Netball, but as a country and advocates of women’s sport to really put ourselves on the global sporting map.
Interestingly, I listened to the latest Netball Nation podcast earlier (I will save my Netball podcast recommendations for another blog but I have been listening to a lot lately!) Sara Bayman was pretty outspoken on the Ama Agbeze situation and gave some views that I am happy to admit I hadn’t considered. I will leave you to have a listen and form your own opinions!
It does make me more thoughtful about commercialism of netball though and the sacrifices we may have to make to take the sport in this new, evolving direction. Can it all be positive?
In terms of the World Cup, we have the opportunity, as well as a responsibility in my view, to inspire, influence and engage with as many young girls and their mums, aunties, nans, teachers, etc as possible. You see, it’s not just about netball - our great game can be the vehicle that can improve health, empower and increase confidence, solve loneliness and bring about changes in skills and education. Super women can empower super women.
I have experienced netball changing lives - it is not a cliche. I only hope the work is being done in the background to be able to touch as many lives with Netball as possible. It’s not just about ‘getting bums on seats’ it’s having the understanding about what these women and girls need, having the resources in place and making it as accessible as possible.
Of course we want the GOLD medal 🥇 but there’s an opportunity with a home World Cup to also leave a meaningful, long term legacy.
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