Photo Credit mobserver.co.za
The Kingdom Stars completely dominated the Mpumalanga Sunbirds in their Brutal Fruit Netball Premier League (NPL) match at the Heartfelt Arena on Saturday, thrashing them by 59 points to 29, after leading 27-14 at halftime.
The Stars came out fast and furious, and the Sunbirds struggled to keep up with the pace.
It was a welcome result for Stars coach Marchelle Maroun, after two losses last weekend.
The Kingdom Stars completely dominated the Mpumalanga Sunbirds in their Brutal Fruit Netball Premier League (NPL) match at the Heartfelt Arena on Saturday, thrashing them by 59 points to 29, after leading 27-14 at halftime.
The Stars came out fast and furious, and the Sunbirds struggled to keep up with the pace.
It was a welcome result for Stars coach Marchelle Maroun, after two losses last weekend.
“I’m a lot happier than I was a week ago,” she said. “I did a lot of work with the shooters during the week and that paid off. But we are still a work in progress and there’s a lot of work to do.
“What pleases me is that we have been able to try a number of combinations that are working well. I have a lot of versatile players who have natural flair.”
She praised the young Sunbirds shooter, 19-year-old Leani du Plessis, saying her accuracy had been impressive.
“We had to make sure the ball didn’t get into their circle, because if she got the ball, she scored,” said Maroun.
Player of the match Precious Mthembu of the Stars, who has played for the Proteas for a number of years, said the Stars knew they had to come back strongly after two defeats.
“We had to do what the coach wanted and follow the game plan,” she said.
Jenne-Lee Delport, coach of the Sunbirds, said she was disappointed with the result of the match.
“We are not 30 goals weaker than they are,” she said. “Leani had a good day today, but the two players I used in goal attack were both missing too many goals. Every centre pass we lost was because the shooters missed their shot at goal.
“But what did please me was that the girls are no longer passing the ball backwards, as they were doing last week. They are also beginning to connect with one another, and once they do that, we will have a stronger team.”
“What pleases me is that we have been able to try a number of combinations that are working well. I have a lot of versatile players who have natural flair.”
She praised the young Sunbirds shooter, 19-year-old Leani du Plessis, saying her accuracy had been impressive.
“We had to make sure the ball didn’t get into their circle, because if she got the ball, she scored,” said Maroun.
Player of the match Precious Mthembu of the Stars, who has played for the Proteas for a number of years, said the Stars knew they had to come back strongly after two defeats.
“We had to do what the coach wanted and follow the game plan,” she said.
Jenne-Lee Delport, coach of the Sunbirds, said she was disappointed with the result of the match.
“We are not 30 goals weaker than they are,” she said. “Leani had a good day today, but the two players I used in goal attack were both missing too many goals. Every centre pass we lost was because the shooters missed their shot at goal.
“But what did please me was that the girls are no longer passing the ball backwards, as they were doing last week. They are also beginning to connect with one another, and once they do that, we will have a stronger team.”
By: Farai Diza
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