Ranked as one of the country’s most talented Netball Technical Officials, Ivy Masebe will be at the 2023 IFNA Netball World Cup tournament representing her hometown of Ga-Rankuwa. Dreaming of participating on the world’s biggest stage, Ivy Masebe completed a panel of the world’s leading Netball technical officials called up for the world cup. Masebe is a Technical Official in the Telkom Netball league, African qualifiers games, International Males games, and Quad series.
In an exclusive interview with Capital Sport the highly ranked official opened up about her journey to the top and the challenges that have shaped her. “ I started playing netball at the early age of 11, my mom was a coach where she taught me so it became easy for me because even at home she would show me some tips that’s how I fell in love with the game and the fact that also my day was a sports person there was no way I couldn’t progress”.
Realising that her netball career was about to end, Masebe decided to become an umpire for the game. However, she struggled until she became a coach. In her coaching career, Masebe led Tshwane to glory at the National Under 21 Champs in Potchefstroom. Her coaching experience has made it easy to understand the game better.
“ The experience has helped me a lot because it has made it easier to understand how things are done. Knowing Netball rules is critical. To be a TO you need to know how to take statistics of players, and shooter percentages, it is a lot of work, so make sure you’re ready and have experience.
She further praises Riana Bezuidenhout and her mentor Magriet Bester for their contribution to her development in the officiating role. Masebe joined Tshwane Netball under Riana Bezuidenhout’s leadership who gave a chance for her to learn and shine. She was then mentored by Magriet Bester who taught her everything about being a TO.
On her emotions following the world cup call-up, Masebe expressed her delight at the big step in her career. Her call-up to the world cup has sparked excitement in her community.
Amid sharing her emotions and representing her hometown, she said, “When I was called up I was extremely happy, I cried and pinched myself, and the next day I checked again to see if my name was still on the list, and I was like Wow, now Ga Rankuwa is on the map,”. It is an honour to know that I have touched people’s lives in my community and now everyone wants to follow me.”
Masebe with other officials selected for the world cup has been training at the Quad Series and is now officiating at the Telkom Netball league. The World Cup tournament takes place from the 28th of July to the 6th of August in Cape Town.
