Two stalwarts from the 2007 World Cup and a member of the Under21 squad were among the 15 players named in an elite 15-member training squad named by Netball South Africa, after a training camp in Potchefstroom at the weekend.

The squad will take part in another training camp next month, after which the 12 members of the SPAR national netball team will be announced.

Shooters Christine Markgraaff and Cindy Gumede -- leading members of the 2007 World Cup squad both returned to the squad after an absence of several years, while the selectors were very impressed by centre court player Mudi Mungenga, who was a star member of the South African Under21 squad at the World Youth Championships in the Cook Islands last year.

Another player to return to the squad was the ever-popular Erin Burger, who was left out of the last SPAR national squad. Coach Carin Strauss said she was very happy with the standard of play at the training camp.

“It’s still very early in the season, but the standard of play was very high.  That shows that the players have been committed to their training programmes during the off season,” she said. “All members of the squad have been given goals to work towards before the next camp,” she added.

“If they don’t achieve certain requirements at each camp, they will be replaced. As coach and selectors, we are always on the lookout for new talent, so the door is always open for a talented player to force her way in.”

Strauss was delighted that players of the caliber of Markgraaff, Gumede and Burger were back in the fold. “They are all very experienced and they will add a lot of depth to the combinations we can work on,” she said.

Other familiar faces in the squad include Zanele Mdodane, Claudia Basson, Chrisna Bootha, Nthabiseng Moabi, Precious Mthembu and Liezel Wium.

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