Nketsa is one of four Free State players in the 15-member squad and certainly the least experienced of the lot, but one of the most exciting . The others are Lefébre Rademan, Khanyisa Chawane and Karla Pretorius.

The North West Flames player, Elmere van den Berg, also hails from Bloemfontein, however, she is studying in Potchefstroom.

Last year Nketsa was named as the best senior centre during the National Netball Championships.

The Psychology student at the University of the Free State told OFM Sport that being selected is a massive honour.

“The selection of the 15 players that will represent South Africa at the World Cup was a huge moment for me,” said Nketsa.

“It was an opportunity that I honestly took as a fifty-fifty because it's such a great and huge squad of players that we have. Everyone on the team fully deserves to make it into the squad.”

Nketsa added the mere back that the World Cup will be played on South African and African soil for the first time will certainly be a game-changer for the sport in the country.

“Playing on such a big platform on home soil is honestly a dream that one prays for. Now that it's here we have to fully embrace it and play and perform for our country.

“Once again it truly is an honour - it's such a big moment for us as Free Staters and South Africans. It's a changing moment in history.”

The 2023 Netball World Cup in South Africa gets underway on 28 July at the Cape Town International Convention Centre.

Morgan Piek OFM Sport