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Next level awaits Lefébre in Europe

02 November 2020 | Story Ruan Bruwer | Photo Varsity Sports

Lefebre_web read more — Lefébre Rademan, the country’s top student netball player in 2019, has been snatched up by English netball club London Pulse to play in England in 2021.

Attempting to become an even better netballer, former Kovsies netball captain Lefébre Rademan decided to jet off to England to play in their league.

Rademan was contracted by London Pulse to compete in the European Superleague in 2021. She will be the fourth Kovsie after Maryka Holtzhausen (2015 and 2018-2019), Karla Pretorius (2016), and Khanyisa Chawane (2020) to play in the league.

Rademan said it was an easy decision, even though it will be far and a long time away from home. The league runs from February to July, with a pre-season in December. She will continue with her master’s degree at the University of the Free State next year.

“I am not going to play netball forever and such an opportunity doesn’t come often. Having competed against England, New Zealand, and Jamaica earlier in the year, I realised they play at a much higher level and if I want to improve and become the best, I would also need to move to a next level.”

“As a goal attack, having Protea teammate Sigi Burger (goal shooter) at the same club, will be an advantage for both of us and for the Proteas as a combination.”

Rademan has had a great past two years, making her Protea debut (12 tests in total) and receiving a number of accolades, such as the Varsity Netball Player of the Tournament in 2019.

In the Telkom Netball League in October, captaining the Free State Crinums, she was named Shooter of the Tournament. She was Player of the Match twice. Her goal average of 88,1% was the highest in the competition.

“Last year was such a good year for me personally, but that remains in the past. You can’t become complacent. I want to keep working hard and become a much better player,” Rademan said.

News Archive

Many changes for Shimlas, says new captain

2016-01-25

Description: 2016 Shimla Neil Claassen Tags: 2016 Shimla Neil Claassen
The versatile forward, Neil Claassen, will lead the Shimlas onto the field in the 2016 Varsity Cup. Photo: Johan Roux.

The University of the Free State (UFS) has a new group of rugby players, a new head coach, and a new captain.

This is how the Shimla skipper, Neil Claassen, summed up his team's approach to the 2016 Varsity Cup.

Although the UFS will start the tournament as defending champions, the 23-year-old Claassen believes that much has changed since 2015.

One of which is his appointment. The flanker, who can play lock as well, was recently appointed as Varsity Cup captain in his third series.

The former Springbok flanker, Hendro Scholtz, took over as head coach from Franco Smith, who is now the Cheetahs trainer. Mac Masina, former centre for the Lions, is a new assistant coach.

New year with more pressure

Because of all the changes, Claassen feels that the Shimlas will need a different approach to the 2016 tournament.

“There will definitely be more attention on us (as champions). However, the guys in the camp see it as a new year,” he said.

“There is pressure, but we don't focus on that too much.”

Previous leaders set example

According to Claassen, he has never before led a team for which he played.

“I didn't expect to be captain,” the former pupil of Paarl Gymnasium said.

“This is something new. I have played with good leaders like AJ (Coertzen) and Oupa (Mohoje) before, and will take forward what I have learned from them.”

He also believes that there are several senior players, such as the vice-captain, Pieter-Steyn de Wet, who will assist him in his leadership role.

Back from injury

Claassen has played Currie Cup, Vodacom Cup, U21 and U19 rugby for the Free State.

However, a knee injury kept him out of action for nine months and he missed the last three Varsity Cup matches of 2015.

He returned for a training match against the University of Johannesburg in Kroonstad on 23 January 2016. The Shimlas also played a warm-up match against the University of KwaZulu-Natal in Bethlehem on 16 January 2016.

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