May the spirits be with SA Netball!

GARDEN ROUTE NEWS - The Western Cape "took" the Netball World Cup trophy on Monday 3 July when the trophy passed hands from the Eastern Cape to the Western Cape during a ceremony at the Tsitsikamma Khoisan Village next to the Storms River bridge.

The world cup takes place at the Cape Town International Convention Centre from 28 July to 6 August, with 16 teams from across the globe vying for top honours.

At the handover Khoisan paramount chief !Nakama, Goaky! aob, Kai! nas - translated as great African Eagle - presided over the ritual of burning Mpepho, or kooigoed, to ward off evil spirits.

"It is used at all rituals of the Khoi to drive off evil spirits and, hopefully, will give the SA netball team a hupstoot (boost) in the world cup competition," !Nakama Goaky! aob, Kai! nas said.Other dignitaries at the handover included the Deputy Minister of Sport and Culture, Nocawe Mafu, MECs from the Eastern Cape and Western Province and Bitou Mayor Dave Swart who attended the ceremony held to honour the indigenous Khoisan people.

The handover ceremony of the Netball World Cup trophy at the Tsitsikamma Khoisan Village on Monday was a lively affair.

This was the final handover after the trophy travelled from province to province over the past month.

A song was performed in Khoi-khoi featuring the words: "The sun, the moon and the stars are alive", hailed by Mafu as everything you could ever want.

Eastern Cape MEC for Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture Nonceba Kontsiwe officially handed the trophy to Anroux Marais, the Western Cape Minister of Cultural Affairs and Sport.

"The Western Cape Government is very happy and honoured to receive this trophy and to embark on a tour across our province to get all communities excited about the Netball World Cup," said Marais.

"Cape Town is ready and looking forward to hosting the world cup for the very first time on African soil. Although all the matches are being played in Cape Town itself, we want to include the whole province in the build-up and actual tournament and we are very happy that various municipalities have partnered with us to host fan zones and viewing centres. These will ensure that people across the province can watch the live matches for free at a venue close to their homes."

One of these fan zones will be at Rosemoor Stadium in George.

The trophy was displayed for public viewing at Plettenberg Bay Primary on Tuesday 4 July where primary schools Phakamisani, Plettenberg Bay, Crags and Formosa took part in exhibition matches. From Plett the trophy travelled to Beaufort West and then on to Prince Albert as it makes its way to Cape Town for the big event.

The handover was a colourful affair.