Proteas head coach Jenny Van Dyk not in a hurry to appoint a new captain
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Despite two months into her tenure after replacing the renowned Australia coach Norma Plummer, Van Dyk is carefully considering her options.
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Msomi’s departure marked the end of a remarkable leadership spanning over a decade, during which she earned 171 caps and garnered immense respect from her teammate.
Speaking to SABC Sport, Van Dyk emphasised that her search for a leader, should embody the same qualities as the former Proteas skipper. She intends to conduct thorough interviews with each player before making her final decision.
“We wanted to open up the process a little bit. Bongi has been the leader of the group for such a longtime and we do want to have a few conversations with some of the players. We have an idea who the leadership group is – that we do want to announce and a very good idea of the captain as well, but we still need to finalise a few things before we make that announcement,” said van Dyk.
With the Proteas ’upcoming test match against rivals Malawi now rescheduled from August to the end of the year, Van Dyk finds herself with more time to deliberate on her decision regarding the appointment of the new captain.
”How long can they wait?, our first match is only at the end of the year, all of them are playing for their clubs. We need to make sure that we identify the right person for the job,” added van Dyk.
Van Dyk emphasises that it does not matter whether the chosen player play netball locally or overseas. She explains that the interview process is conducted virtually, accommodating players regardless of their location.
She is aware that not all players will attend training camps at the same time, as some compete locally while others are based abroad.
Van Dyk outlined the attributes sought in the new leader, emphasizing the importance of leading by example and maintaining regular participation on the court rather than occupying a bench role.