Netball Proteas issue rallying cry to fans ahead of 2023 World Cup: 'We can't do this without them'

The Proteas are aiming to build spectacular fan momentum this netball season ahead of next year's Netball World Cup in Cape Town.

Fans will see this year's Telkom Netball League (TNL) live for the first time since the 2019 edition when the competition starts on 27 April at Durban's Olive Convention Centre.

Netball South Africa (NSA) is counting down 471 days until the country gets to host the biggest global netball showpiece next year, in which they are aiming for a podium finish after finishing fourth in the UK last time out.

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They narrowly lost to Australia in the semi-finals in 2019 before succumbing handsomely to hosts England in the 3rd-4th place playoff, who were spurred on by the partisan crowd.

Key to their aims, says Proteas coach Dorette Badenhorst, is building fan "gees" at netball arenas, starting with the marquee domestic competition in the country, the TNL.

"History shows that we perform much better at home," says Badenhorst.

"It's great to have our players back in the country, playing at this level and where we can have our own supporters seeing them.

"Supporters make a huge difference when you play in another country with six to seven thousand people shouting against you. We will have our own supporters shouting for us.

"It's also important that we build that relationship with supporters out there.

"The players cannot do it without their support. They need their support and we can't do this without the support of people.

"The more we can get, the better they will play because they want to perform in front of their own people."

Proteas skipper Bongi Msomi, the centre at the furnace of most of their epic battles, also says spectator presence makes a