Phumza Maweni

South African defender who didn't turn professional until age 28 but went on to become the most-capped player in Proteas history across a nine-year career.

Phumza Maweni was born on 4 September 1984 and raised in Cala, in South Africa's Eastern Cape. A remarkably late bloomer, she did not begin playing professional netball until age 28, starting with Southern Stings in the Brutal Fruit Netball Cup before her form for South Africa caught the attention of national coach Norma Plummer, who encouraged her to sign with clubs in higher-profile overseas leagues. Maweni made her SPAR Proteas debut in 2014 against Scotland and went on to play in three Netball World Cups, retiring with 171 caps — the most in South African netball history. She played in England's Netball Superleague for Loughborough Lightning, Severn Stars and Team Bath, being named to the league's All-Star VII in goal keeper in 2022 alongside defensive partner Layla Guscoth, before joining Sunshine Coast Lightning in Australia's Suncorp Super Netball in 2019, where she played all 47 matches across three seasons. Maweni represented South Africa at the 2018 Commonwealth Games and returned home in 2022 to captain her home team, the Western Cape Southern Stings, in the Telkom Netball League. She retired in December 2023 at age 39 — the oldest player in the Proteas squad — after her final match against England, and has since focused on mentoring and coaching the next generation of South African netballers.

Tenacious, intelligent goal keeper known for exceptional court reading and longevity at the elite level

A late-blooming legend whose discipline and dedication made her one of South African netball's most respected defenders and mentors

• South Africa's most-capped netball international (171 caps)
• 2022 Netball Superleague All-Star VII (goal keeper)
• 3x Netball World Cup player
• Commonwealth Games 2018