The Protea star, coach, mother, and dietitian has fond memories of her Kovsie times and says it set a platform for her to excel on and off the court.
And this perspective now forms part of the knowledge Pretorius, who has played in three World Cups and became only the fifth South African to reach 100 tests, is now imparting to aspiring youngsters.
Her qualifications at the UFS are a BSc Dietetics degree and master’s degree in Dietetics. She has furthermore obtained a Diploma in Sports Management and a Graduate Diploma Certificate in Health Promotion while playing internationally.
She features in the UFS Sporting Legends project, which acknowledges current and former Kovsie sports stars by celebrating their journeys in a video and story series.
The series looks at the impact the UFS has had on their careers, how it has shaped them uniquely, and helped them to excel – whether in sport or work.
UFS platform
The former Kovsie captain represented the UFS from 2009 to 2015 and was the Varsity Netball Player of the Tournament in 2014 and 2015.
Other UFS awards include being the KovsieSport Senior Sportswoman of the Year in 2015 and 2016 and being the Young Alumnus of the Year at the UFS Chancellor’s Distinguished Alumni Awards in 2019.
In 2018, 2019, and 2023 she was named Sport Star of the Year at the Free State Sport Stars dinner.
“For me it was important to be happy on all levels. Not only in netball, but my academics was important and also being part of the student and residence life.”
“I now tell people, don’t just play netball and study something random. If it doesn’t go well with the netball, you still need your academics or something you like that can fill your energy tank.”
“The campus gave me the opportunity that everything I needed was there – the faculty, my residence Emily Hobhouse, and where we practised netball. It is a favourable environment to be balanced.”
Protea milestone
The 33-year-old made her Protea debut back in 2011, has played 112 tests, and has been the national vice-captain for the past few years.
Last year she played her 100th international game, joining only four other players – one of whom is KovsieSport staff member Maryka Holtzhausen – to do so.
“When I played my 100th game during the 2023 World Cup, I never thought that I would actually reach that. When I think back to when I played my first test for my country in 2011, that was not really a goal.”
In 2019, Pretorius was named Player of the Tournament at the World Cup in Liverpool, which will always be a big highlight for her.
The defender also played locally for the Free State Crinums, with whom she won the Brutal Fruit Premier League in 2014 and 2015, and overseas she represented Bath in England.
In 2017, she became the first South African to play in the Suncorp Super Netball League in Australia and represented the Sunshine Coast Lightning for seven seasons. She also helped the Lighting to be crowned champions in 2017 and 2018.
“Australia is on a different level when it comes to netball professionalism – how the players get contracts and are paid. Australia is definitely the best league in the world, and everyone wants to play there,” she says.
According to her, the players are exceptionally well looked after: “It is everything that being a professional athlete means – it is your life (when you play in Australia).”
Coaching
Imparting her netball knowledge is something Pretorius has been doing for the past few years, although she is still playing.
At the end of 2023, she was appointed as head netball coach at the Fichardt Park High School in Bloemfontein. Here she coaches the first team but is also responsible for the general coaching structures.
“I am very excited about coaching. I feel I have a lot of knowledge to share, and it is a great opportunity for me to do that.”
“I am really excited and feel that this is what I need to do.”