Protea Star Appointed NWU Coach
Former Protea star and North-West University (NWU) stalwart, Elsunet du Plessis, has been appointed as the new NWU netball coach starting on 1 January 2024. Elsunet takes over the Potchefstroom-based team’s reins from Dorette Badenhorst.
“After an extensive consultation process Elsunet proved to be the best possible candidate to take our club forward,” says Heléne Botha, manager of women’s sport at the campus in Potchefstroom. “She has extensive knowledge of university netball and students, in addition to holding a master’s degree in sport science. She has grown so much as a coach as well as a person and we have no doubt that numerous successes as head coach of the club awaits her.”
Elsunet represented the NWU as goal attack from 2007 to 2014, North West provincial teams from 2006 to 2024 and was part of the Protea squad from 2010 to 2024 to name but a few. As coach she guided the NWU u/19 and u/21 teams to national triumphs. In 2024 and 2024 she served as head coach of Crawford College North Coast and The Wykeham Collegiate respectively.
“Some might say that Elsunet has very big shoes to fill, but I believe she is the type of person who takes her own shoes and walks her own path,” says Heléne. “She is an unbelievably hardworking person and she is fair and principled. As a player she had to deal with some heartbreaking setbacks, but she persevered to become a Protea. It is that type of resolve that she brings to the club and to the players. They look up to her and trust her. We are very excited to have her as part of our team and we wish her all the best.”
*Elsunet was born on 3 June 1987 in Heidelberg, Gauteng. She attended Hoër Volkskool in Potchefstroom before completing her tertiary education at the NWU.
Elsunet du Plessis in action on the netball court.