Jenny van Dyk preparing a mentally strong team ahead of World Cup

van Dyk was among the dignitaries at the launch of Netball South Africa’s Road to Sydney campaign in Johannesburg on Friday.

Speaking to SABC Sport, the coach said that the Proteas must not hold back but instead approach the global showpiece with the belief that they are one of the contenders for a podium finish.

"It's a game of margins so we have been ticking off the small boxes and we are closing down on that margin every single time we play, understanding that the majority of the World Cup team is not with us at the moment. It's going to take a lot of heart, and Netball brains and confidence to be successful because t's that whole thing of stop admiring and start becoming."

READ: Novak Djokovic's ATP Finals hopes suffer major blow after shock Basel Open exit

van Dyk says the 2026 Telkom Netball League contributed positively to preparing players for high-performance netball. She added that she was particularly impressed by the number of young players who stepped up and made their mark ahead of the World Cup.

"I saw a lot of our younger players really stepping up in the Telkom Netball League, as well as the u/21 team that performed so well in their World Cup with a fourth place finish. We are in a really good position right now because we are creating layers and layers of depth in each position."

With Netball South Africa President Mami Diale confirming that the national team’s target at the World Cup is a top-four finish, van Dyk believes the ambition is realistic.

She says the Spar Proteas must be prepared to compete against the world’s best, if they want to rise to the top.