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NETBALL WORLD CUP TROPHY LANDS ON AFRICAN SOIL

Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa:  Preparations for the Vitality Netball World Cup 2023 (VNWC2023) have stepped up a gear with the famous tournament trophy arriving on South African soil ahead of the highly-anticipated event taking place from the 28th July to 6th August 2023 at the Cape Town International Convention Centre.

With the VNWC2023 being the first Netball World Cup to take place on the continent of  Africa, it was fitting that the trophy arrived into South Africa on Africa Day, 25th May, a day which is celebrated across the whole continent.

The VNWC2023 has always been considered as being more than just about the city of Cape Town and instead one for all of Africa to share, with four of the 16 competing nations African; South Africa, Malawi, Uganda and Zimbabwe.

The trophy is now in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal ready to start a far-reaching tour of the country.

Speaking on the excitement of the trophy tour, Africa Netball and Netball South Africa President Cecilia Molokwane said: “Let it be an African spectacle, showcasing our culture and our uniqueness as South Africa because we are a rainbow nation and to me showing that Africa can do it and women can do it is the most important thing,

“We want to leave a legacy.

“Hosting the Netball World Cup is a first for Africa, so history will be made right here on home soil and right on our doorstep.”

Trophy Arrival2: The Netball World Cup trophy arrived for the first time ever on African soil ahead of the 2023 Vitality Netball World Cup to be staged in Cape Town in July. Cecilia Molokwane, President of Netball South Africa (NSA) and NSA CEO, Blanche De La Guerre collected the trophy from World Netball in London on Tuesday and delivered it to South African shores today (Thursday) on an international flight that landed at the King Shaka International Airport in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal. Pictured at the trophy arrival ceremony is President of Netball South Africa, Cecilia Molokwane holding the trophy and to her left Deputy Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Nocawe Mafu, Premier of KwaZulu-Natal, Nomusa Dube-Ncube and MEC Sport, Arts and Culture, Dr Ntuthuko Mahlaba. Picture Credit: Rogan Ward

The chairperson of the VNWC2023 Board, Ms Patience Shikwambana, added: “Things are getting so real you can literally touch the trophy.

“What we will see for the next six weeks across the length and breadth of our land is the reality that the Vitality Netball World Cup 2023 is finally here.

“It is far bigger than a single city, it’s something for South Africa and Africa to celebrate and enjoy, and participate in.

“It’s a huge step forward for women’s sport in South Africa and we encourage the public to go out and be part of this proud countrywide tour.”

The VNWC2023 Trophy Tour will start in KwaZulu-Natal, before moving to Gauteng, and then stopping off in Mpumalanga, Limpopo, North West, Free State, Northern Cape, Eastern Cape, before reaching its final destination in the Western Cape.

“The fact that the Netball World Cup Trophy is here signifies how close we are to hosting the global showpiece,” said Ms Molokwane.

“I do not think it is a coincidence that it touched down on our shores on Africa Day, we have always maintained that yes, the Vitality Netball World Cup 2023 is hosted in South Africa however, it belongs to the rest of the continent.

“We feel that as it gathers momentum around the country, it will also ramp up interest in the upcoming tournament itself,”

“There has already been overwhelming support for the event, and with the 16 teams taking part also beginning to announce their final squads we can sense the shift in momentum.

“This is something for the entire country, and continent, to experience and be part of.”

The dates for the Trophy Tour are as follows:

25-29 May: KwaZulu-Natal

30 May – 3 June: Gauteng 

4-8 June: Mpumalanga

9-13 June: Limpopo

14-18 June: Free State

19-23 June: North West

24-28 June: Northern Cape

29 June – 3 July: Eastern Cape

4-12 July: Western Cape 

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Trophy Arrival4: The Netball World Cup trophy arrived for the first time ever on African soil ahead of the 2023 Vitality Netball World Cup to be staged in Cape Town in July. Cecilia Molokwane, President of Netball South Africa (NSA) and NSA CEO, Blanche De La Guerre collected the trophy from World Netball in London on Tuesday and delivered it to South African shores today (Thursday) on an international flight that landed at the King Shaka International Airport in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal. Pictured at the trophy arrival ceremony are from right President of Netball South Africa, Cecilia Molokwane, NSA CEO, Blanche De La Guerre, Premier of KwaZulu-Natal, Nomusa Dube-Ncube and Deputy Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Nocawe Mafu. Picture Credit: Rogan Ward