The final for the 2024 Varsity Netball will be played in Bloemfontein on Monday night and the excitement is mounting.

The University of the Free State Kovsies will be playing host to the University of Johannesburg on the campus.

The final is officially sold out and this will be a major boost for the home team as they go hunting for a record fifth title, and the passionate home support will drive them even more.

Kovsies have a record of winning the final every time they have played in it and they are already the most successful team with four titles.

The captain and Proteas star, Refiloe Nketsa, told OFM Sport that they are confident, ready and excited heading into the big match.

“For this game, we decided to just choose wisdom over wounds and I think that statement on its own just explains how ready we are as a team,” said Nketsa.

“It will be a huge game and we’re not going to take it lightly. We know that UJ at one point were on top of the log. We’re not going to shy away from the challenge and the fact that the game will be tough.

Rolene Streutker of UFS has been nominated as one of three players of the tournament - Hannes Naudé/Asem Engage

“But we are ready to show how tough we are as a side, and we’re just not going to allow them to take it away from us. It is a different ball game once again, but it is one last big hurdle for us to just go through and jump together as a team.”

Should Kovsies win the final on Monday, it will be the first time the University will be the netball as well as Varsity Cup rugby champions at the same time. Earlier in the year the Shimlas beat the University of Cape Town Ikeys in a thrilling final in Bloemfontein to win the Varsity Cup rugby for the second time.

Monday’s big final at the Callie Human Hall gets underway at 19:00.

Morgan Piek OFM Sport