The Varsity Netball 2026 season kicked off last week at Coetzenburg Centre in Stellenbosch just after Maties Netball had their 100-year celebration earlier that day.
The Maties Varsity Netball squad for 2026 have a team huddle before the final quarter of their game against the University of the Free State (Kovsies) on 24 August. Maties narrowly lost with the final score being 49 – 43. PHOTO: Emma Giles
The centenary celebration, on 23 August, brought together Maties Netball alumni from across generations to support the team, reconnect and share their memories, said Sasha-Lee Petersen, Maties Netball head coach.
“I think the alumni network is something that is becoming increasingly important to Maties Netball,” she said.
Lize Rossouw, the current captain for Maties Netball 2026 described the experience as “extremely special”.
“We are part of an important milestone, and a part of something that has been growing and developing every year to make Maties Netball better,” she said.
Maties played the University of Johannesburg (UJ) on 23 August with a final score of 46 – 39 to UJ. The following day, Maties played the University of the Free State (Kovsies), 2025 Varsity Netball runners-up, ending with a narrow loss 49 – 43 to Kovsies.
Despite two losses for Maties, the pride and home-ground support stayed strong.
“Coetzenburg has such a strong sporting history and when you play there in front of people who know the programme and support Maties, you feel that connection,” said Petersen.
Maties Netball head coach (right), Sasha-Lee Petersen and Maties Netball assistant coach, Jo Prins, brief the Maties Netball squad at half-time in their Varsity Netball match against the University of the Free State (Kovsies). Petersen and Prins are both former Maties Netball players themselves. PHOTO: Emma Giles
Petersen played for Maties for seven years during her university career.
“There is such a rich history of players who have worn the maroon dress and there is a real sense of pride in being part of that history,” she said.
This was echoed by Zanele Mdodana, the Spar Proteas assistant coach and former Maties Netball head coach during their historic 2022 Varsity Netball victory.
“This is the platform, this is the university that catapulted me to the level that I am [at] right now,” she said.
Maties players, Zahrah Noah, Lisa Ingwersen and Lara Ehlers have represented the green and gold as part of the Spar Baby Proteas squad in 2025.
“They are definitely on the way to the national stage. We always say that if you play the national U21 side, you’re already on the radar,” said Mdodana.
There were moments in the Kovsies match-up where the physicality tested both teams, said Petersen.
The Maties vs the University of the Free State (Kovsies) match-up at Varsity Netball saw a high intensity. “The demands and physicality only gets more and more, people train harder and competition gets harder,” says Lize Rossouw, current Maties Netball captain. PHOTO: Emma Giles
“We try to replicate those pressure situations as much as possible in training, but there is no substitute for actually experiencing them,” said Jo Prins, Maties assistant coach and former captain.
For the games to come, Prins and Petersen would like to see the team build confidence and composure, back themselves and to have fun.
“I would like to see them enjoy themselves, win some games, play their heart out and leave everything on the court – show other universities that Maties is a threat,” said Syntiche Kabuya, former Maties captain in 2023 and 2025.
Petersen said she can see the team is developing.
“We are working hard on recruitment, player development, squad depth and creating an environment where players can develop into strong university and potentially provincial and national-level athletes,” she said.