The importance of hard work is one of the lessons Spar Proteas goal attack Kamogelo Maseko learned from former coach Norma Plummer.
Maseko is one of 15 players who have cemented their place in the 2024 Spar Proteas squad that will usher in a new era under the leadership of new coach Jenny van Dyk and assistant Zanele Mdodana.
The 22-year-old prospect was part of Plummer’s squad at the 2023 Netball World Cup, which was hosted at the Cape Town International Convention Centre in 2023.
Despite not playing a game in the World Cup, Maseko said she took a lot of netball and life lessons from one of the most successful coaches in the world.
Everything is performance-based
“Norma Plummer is a coach who has a lot of wisdom and experience. One of the things that I learned from her is that everything is performance-based,” Maseko said in an interview with Sunday World recently.
“So, we all had to work hard to achieve whatever we wanted because, as I always say, everyone is talented and in the national team because of that, but at the end, it’s all about who wants it more.
“So, coach Norma instilled that in me, and I want to believe in the rest of the team as well that hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard.”
Following a series of retirements within the team that featured at the World Cup, including that of veteran Phumza Maweni and long-serving captain Bongiwe Msomi, Maseko said though they are under pressure to emulate them, they will embrace it and utilise the opportunity.
The ball is in our court
“I think the pressure is good. We learned a lot from the likes of Bongi, especially as our leader and teammate.
“So, it’s up to us to step up and grab the opportunity with both hands because the ball is in our court.
“I just think we need to embrace this moment because diamonds are created under pressure, so let’s go.”
The Proteas are scheduled to convene for an inaugural alignment camp this month, with locally based players and training partners set to participate.
The overseas-based players are slated to join the rest of the team at the end of July in preparation for the clash against Malawi in August.
