Proteas captain Kamogelo Maseko believes that the champion team defending its title at the African volleyball tournament will face increased attention from fans when their campaign in the 2026 African Volleyball Cup in Nairobi, Kenya, begins with the match against Tanzania on Saturday.
Maseko is aware of the huge responsibility placed upon her as the new captain of Spar Proteas, but she wishes for the updated South African squad to be able to disregard the 'external noise' at the start of the title defense at the African Cup in Nairobi on Saturday.
The five-time African champions are starting with a match against Tanzania at the Moi International Sports Centre, returning to the tournament after defeating Uganda 56–34 in last year's final.
For Maseko, receiving the captaincy is an honour and a privilege. She noted: 'It won't be an easy task, but I think the support from the team, coaches, and all of Netball South Africa makes things easier.'
South Africa faces a different problem compared to many of its continental rivals. The Proteas and Uganda have already qualified for the World Volleyball Championship in Sydney next year, while other teams are fighting for the remaining spots in Africa.
Maseko expects the opponents to be highly motivated but believes the tournament will also provide an opportunity to demonstrate the depth of the South African squad. She emphasized: 'The countries will come at us with full commitment because they are also fighting for a spot in the World Championship, but for us, it is about us as a team and demonstrating the depth of volleyball in South Africa.'
This depth of focus is a key priority for coach Jenny van Dijk, who aims to give players who do not receive regular international time a chance to prove themselves, while simultaneously testing new tactical options and combinations.
One of the most interesting figures is Nonsikelello Mazibuko, who returns to the Proteas squad after a five-year absence, having had a stellar season in the Telkom Volleyball League where she was named Tournament Player. Her return was due to a change in position in the Golden Fireballs team, as the absence of Owetu 'Sammy' Ngubane forced her to switch from a scorer to an attacking scorer. Mazibuko stated: 'Since Sammy went abroad, and we didn't have an attacking scorer, I had to take on this role outside my position... and I think I am here because of that.' She added: 'Being here is no joke. You have to work to get here, so I am very proud of myself and ready to work hard.'
Van Dijk asserts that retaining the title remains the main priority, but the tournament also offers an opportunity to strengthen the squad ahead of the World Championship. The coach said: 'Many players don't always get as much playing time as they deserve, so observing what they can do is an important part of our task. And then, obviously, we have tactical diversity that allows for the implementation of the right counter-strategies if necessary—which we have already defined at the Commonwealth Games.'
Maseko maintains a firm focus on the collective. She noted: 'There is some excitement, but I think everyone is looking forward to the tournament. Going there with new combinations and new players in the squad is a huge opportunity for us to enjoy it as a team, but the priority is the team, not external noise.'
Mazibuko is already looking beyond the first match. When asked if Proteas can win the trophy again, she replied confidently: 'Yes, I have no doubt.'