Newly elected Netball South Africa (NSA) president, Mami Diale, says the federation will put their hand up to host the inaugural Men’s Netball World Cup in 2028.

World Netball (WN) announced their intention to launch the men’s edition of the global tournament in order to grow the sport. WN is continuing to build a case with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to include the sport in the quadrennial Olympic Games and have it included in the Games.

South Africa became the first African country to host the Netball World Cup in 2023 and Diale hopes the success of the Cape Town edition will bring the competition to the country.

“The men’s World Cup will be hosted in 2028 and we are raising our hand to host it. We want to host that World Cup but for us to host it we need to have a men’s league happening,” said Diale.

She reckons that securing a title sponsor for the Men’s Senior Netball National Championships will go a long way in making sure that the game becomes stronger in South Africa. Currently South Africa has Men’s Senior Netball National Championships as the only main competition.

The Rea Bapala Males Netball Festival, a tournament that was launched in 2022 and featured total of 17 teams taking part was only hosted for two years. The Twizza Club Championship has also since disappeared. Diale reckons sponsorship will go a long way in aiding the growth of the men’s game.

“We definitely need a sponsor for the males. We need a title sponsor that will sponsor the males in terms of the championship and for us to start a league in preparation for the World Cup. We will start with a small super league while we are looking for a sponsor.

"We can probably start with four or six teams of high performance players that participate in the male’s championship,” she said.

Men’s netball in South Africa has been growing in popularity over the last few years. The senior team got to play outside of the continent for the first time in 2022 at Americas Netball Men's Championship in St Vincent and the Grenadines.

Jabulani Vilane’s side have also won back to back Africa Netball Cup competitions. The men’s side have taken part in two FAST5 Netball World Series tournaments as well. SA men’s goal shooter, Shane Labuschagne, believes South Africa needs more competitions to strengthen the growth of the sport.

“I think there must be more tournaments included because we cannot only have one tournament. Everyone just prepares for one tournament for the year and then the squad is selected. We do need more tournaments, there are not as many opportunities for us as with the women with the TNL.

"They have lots of other tournaments as well. We need to grow on that in order to build for that World Cup that’s coming up,” said Labuschagne.

Diale was named the new president following the NSA elections in which she got majority of 69 out of 116. She was the favourite over Eastern Cape’s Nompumelelo Javu and Western Cape’s Annelie Lucas who used to hold the director of coaching position in the outgoing administration.

She was first elected as a board member in 2002, Diale served as director of demarcation and structures, and was later elected vice president in the 2021 election.

Following the suspension of Cecilia Molokwane by World Netball amid allegations of intimidation and “excessive use” of NSA resources related to the 2023 Netball World Cup. Diale stepped in and served as acting president from April this year.

“NSA’s council members have chosen the best executive ever. These are the people that have the knowledge and haven been there for netball. They are qualified to do what they will be expected to do.

"Our plan is to bring back the culture of netball, to rebuild and to restore netball. That is the most important thing and for us to do that, we need uniformity. We need to work together as a team. It is very important that when we start we have to do administrative capacity building, more especially on our own policies as well as the constitution,” said Diale.

The new executive committee

Mami Diale- President

Khosi Dlamini- Vice President

Lana Krige- Director: Selections

Dumisani Chauke- Director: Coaches

Claudine Classen- Director: Demarcations and Structures

Magriet Bester- Director: Umpires

Mami Diale was on Saturday elected as the new Netball South Africa president replacing Cecilia Molokwane.

Diale served as vice president since 2021 and has been serving as the Acting President of the organisation since April 2025.

Over the past two days, members of the NSA council convened for a special council meeting and the quadrennial general meeting at the Garden Court Hotel in Kempton Park, Johannesburg.

Of the 69 council members, 62 were present over the weekend, with representatives from the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (Sascoc) in attendance as observers.

The newly elected executive committee who will serve for the next four years are:

Mami Diale (President)

Khosi Dlamini (Vice President)

Lana Krige (Director: Selections)

Dumisani Chauke (Director: Coaches)

Claudine Classen (Director: Demarcations and Structures)

Magriet Bester (Director: Umpires)

Speaking shortly after being elected as president Diale said, “Firstly, I would like to thank the Council Members for demonstrating such confidence in me and electing me as their new leader for the next five years.

“A big thank you also to all members who nominated me — this is no small feat, and I am truly honoured.

“Now that the elections are concluded, the real work begins. I have full confidence that the new leadership of Netball South Africa is ready and capable to continue with the business of the day and the work that lies ahead.

“We cannot be oblivious to what has happened in the past; we now need to begin the work of restoration, rebuilding and renewal. We must be intentional about doing the right thing, safeguarding our sport, and reclaiming its dignity.

“Time is a luxury we do not have — we need to hit the ground running.”

 

South Africa will be proud to see yet again a good number of players competing in professional leagues in 2026.

Over the last couple of years, the Spar Proteas have seen several players getting a chance to play in overseas leagues where the sport is played on a professional level.

In 2024, a record nine South African players featured in the United Kingdom’s Netball Super League (NSL).

The number remains strong for next season, with eight Proteas set to compete in the NSL, one more player than in the 2025 season.

For the first time in seven seasons Sigi Burger will not feature in the NSL.

The goal shooter played for Birmingham Panthers in 2025, however she could not finish the season after sustaining a knee injury to her medial collateral ligament (MCL) during a league match against her former club, London Pulse.

She has not yet announced if she will be continuing with playing the sport.

Burger moved to the UK’s league in 2018 where she played for Surrey Storm, Pulse, and Leeds Rhinos.

She later joined Severn Stars for two seasons before her final move to the Panthers.

Elmere van der Berg has also exited the UK league after two seasons with Manchester Thunder.

She will move Down Under next season to play for Adelaide Thunderbirds.

Nicholé Breedt will also miss out on the NSL 2.0 after leaving Pulse at the end of last season.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Khanyisa Chawane - Cardiff Dragons

The Proteas captain will be enjoying her third season with the Dragons.

Although she has enjoyed a lot of time on court, her side didn’t get the best results in the competitions.

The team finished last on the NSL table with only two wins to their name out of 14.

Chawane says she hopes 2026 will come with better results for her side.

“I’m hoping that we improve our ranking as a team. We did well this year, but obviously, we didn’t win as many games as we wanted or were hoping we would. The core of the team has remained and we’re looking forward to us playing well together and hoping that we win more games to find ourselves in the top four, she says.

Kamogelo Maseko - London Pulse

The agile attacking player will be playing in her debut season in the NSL. She will be replacing compatriot Breedt.

Maseko says she hopes the move will expand her skills, which she can use at the national team.

“I am really excited for the move. I feel it is time for me to get out of my comfort zone and get out of a family environment, but at the end of the day, the goal doesn’t change. It is about playing my best netball for my country. If I can go out and grow further than what I am now and come back to give to my country, that is the ultimate goal. I am excited about making the move, it is going to make me a better version of myself,” she says.

Nicola Smith - Manchester Thunder

Smith will be hoping to have a full season at Thunder next year. The goalkeeper suffered an injury early this year while touring with the Proteas in Jamaica.

She broke her arm and subsequently missed the entire pre-season, and this forced her to go back to court with the league already in full swing.

Smith will be hoping her side makes it to the Grand Final next season after losing to Pulse in the preliminary final of the competition.

Rolene Streukter - Nottingham Forest

After her impressive debut season with Forest, eyes will be on the shooter in 2026.

In Forest’s first season in the NSL Streukter was named the Players' Player of the Season, Gilbert Top Scorer and Soft and Gentle Super Shooter in her debut year.

She scored a total of 598 goals this season to earn the Top Scorer Award. She also made it into the All-Star starting seven team of the season.

The former Free State Crinums player will be hoping to do enough to help her team finish in the top four next year after the side

Ané Retief - Nottingham Forest

Retief returns to the UK after having a bit of taste of the league in the 2025 season. The defender stepped into fellow South African’s shoes, Smith, while she was recovering from an injury.

Although it was brief, Retief was impressive, and she will be looking to continue in the same vein of form at her new club, where she will be playing alongside Streukter.

Shadine van der Merwe - Loughborough Lightning

Van der Merwe will be hoping luck is on her side next season. The defender missed out on the champions' medal this season after her side fell to Pulse in the Grand Final of the competition.

She will be hoping to add another NSL title medal to her collection. She was a member of the Thunder team that won the 2022 title, and in 2024, she got silver with Thunder before joining Lightning, where her side finished as runners-up to Pulse for yet another silver medal to her name.

Jamie van Wyk - London Mavericks

2025 Telkom Netball League Defender of the Season will be making her debut in the NSL.

Van Wyk will be hoping her experience in the TNL as well as in the senior national colours will come in handy as the Mavericks will be looking to get into the top four for the second time in a row.

Sanmarie Visser - Leeds Rhinos

Visser will be enjoy her second stint in professional netball with the Rhinos.

She was announced as a temporary replacement player for Romelda Aiken-George in the pre-season at the Thunderbirds, however she later replaced Shamera Sterling-Humphrey following her pregnancy announcement.

The Spar Proteas return from their Australasian tour with plenty of valuable lessons in their luggage.

South Africa was not able to register a single win in their matches against both New Zealand and Australia. The Proteas were handed back-to-back whitewashes by the top two teams in the world.

The Jenny van Dyk-led side showed a lot of promise and competitiveness in their last match against the Silver Ferns. They wrapped the Taini Jamison Trophy series with an improved performance and missed out on a win or a draw in the last second of the match, losing 57-56.

Van Dyk reckons the second series against the Origin Diamonds was the tougher of the two assignments.

“The Australian tour was definitely the harder of the two. Not only because we went from playing No 2 (in the world) to No 1, but also the duration of the tour, the amount of travelling that the team had to do, and the turnaround time between the matches. That is literally as hard as it can get for us to play against the No 1 team.

A lot has been revealed within that moment. No 1, how and what areas we are lacking when we are under tremendous pressure, and secondly, our fitness and conditioning, and physical presence on the court. Thirdly, skills that we need to implement with that physicality on our bodies for 60 minutes of the game,” said Van Dyk.

Even though the Proteas didn’t manage to get a win, the former Gauteng Jaguars mentor believes there are some lessons they will take forward as they continue to build.

“There are a lot of areas that we felt were worthy moments of brilliance. Another important lesson is that we need to be able to play in the full 60 (minutes). We need to be able to manage the momentum as well as decision-making in key moments where momentum shifts. I think we are getting there.

"We want to make this happen overnight, but we are also realistic. We understand that Rome wasn’t built in a day. These players are eager to learn and improve. That is exactly what they will keep on doing,” she said.

Van Dyk said there are players who shone throughout the series and were consistent whenever they were on court.

“Players that stood out for me during this series are Elmere van der Berg, Jamie van Wyk. Unfortunately, she couldn’t play the last game because she was not medically cleared. Also, Sanmarie Visser and there were glimpses of Tarle Mathe and Sammy

(Owethu) Ngubane that were just brilliant to me with the consistency that we needed to make sure that they can give us a full game,” she explains.

The coaches announced a strong 15-player squad for the tour Down Under, which included two new call-ups in Entle Futshane and Juanita van Tonder. Eastern Cape Aloes’ van Tonder is the latest to taste the feeling of the green and gold on court, as she made her debut for South Africa in the third test against the Aussies. She came in the third quarter for Nicola Smith taking the goalkeeper bib.

Van Tonder said representing South Africa against the World Champions is a dream come true.

“Earning my first cap was such a surreal moment. What a blessing it was to go onto court against the best in the world and to share that court with the best teammates. It was truly such a dream come true, and I can’t wait for the rest of my journey to continue with this team.

"I spoke to my roommate Sanmarie (after being informed of the debut), it was so much fun to share a room with her and growing close as friends and getting that support from a fellow defender,” said van Tonder.

Van Dyk said she was impressed by van Tonder’s debut and describes her as a hard-working player who never slacks, even when she’s not in the final 12.

“I think Juanita came all guns blazing. She had a great start. She has been training well, and she is such a phenomenal athlete to work with because she leaves everything on that court.

"She gives 100 per cent in every training session whether she knows she’s not going to play or not even on the bench. I am proud of the way she started her international campaign, and we are excited to see what she is going to do next,” she explains.

The Australasian tour has given the coaches an opportunity to understand what kind of squad they have, but also what kind of changes would need to be made for tournaments like the Africa Cup at the end of the year.

“We are definitely looking into the squad’s performances and alternative options that we have. We might see some changes, but this is not something we are giving attention to.

"One thing that is certain is that there will be 12 players travelling to the Africa Cup, so that means three players will not be coming with us,” she said.

The Australian Diamonds continued to display their dominance against the SPAR Proteas as they beat them 65 -42 to claim the series 3 – 0 in Adelaide on Sunday.

The SPAR Proteas had to put the disappointment of the previous match in Wollongong behind them as they come into the final game of the series. With the Aussie Diamonds having had already clinched the series, a win for South Africa would boost their confidence.

A clean sweep! pic.twitter.com/jHvdfF7cWM

— Origin Australian Diamonds (@AussieDiamonds) October 12, 2025

South Africa started off very strong in this match and making sure that they keep the Aussies on the back foot – a task they managed to maintain for the better part of the quarter, however it was the world champs that pulled away in the last three minutes scoring seven goals with no response from their opponents. Aussie Diamonds took the quarter 20 – 11.

SPAR Proteas started the second quarter a bit stronger, using speed to their advantage – the objective was to reduce the score deficit and take the game to Australia who were not sitting back either. SPAR Proteas Head Coach Jenny van Dyk made two tactical change mid quarter with the introduction of Owethu Ngubane for Kamogelo Masego and Juanita van Tonder made her debut replacing Nicola Smith as a goalkeeper. Australia’s dominance and experience continued as they took the quarter 19 – 9, the hosts went into halftime leading the match 39 – 20.

The start of the championship quarter saw van Dyk bring about a few changes to the team with Rolene Streutker and Refiloe Nketsa taking court.

SPAR Proteas held their own as they took the quarter 12 -10 however this was not enough as Australia still enjoyed a 49 – 32 lead.

The SPAR Proteas put up a fight in the final quarter, but a dominant and physical Aussie Diamonds scored 16 goals to the 10 scored by South Africa in the last 15 minutes to give the world’s best netball nation an impressive 65-42 victory.

“Firstly, we would like to congratulate Australia on their fantastic performance. Coming back to us, I believe that there were moments that I think we were right on point and doing a great job on attacks mostly – we have a lot of work that lies ahead of us, we still have a lot to do. We are looking forward to getting back home and start working on areas of improvement. A lot of our identified areas of improvements need a lot of work and not quick fixes, this is something that we need to work on and drilling into our players. We learnt a lot about our players, where they are strong, how they adapt and how we need to manage them. This series was a big eye opener for us, a big learning experience and exercise as well,” said Jenny van Dyk, SPAR Proteas Head Coach.

🇦🇺🆚🇿🇦
Every game, every lesson — we rise, we learn, we keep believing. 🇿🇦

Thank you for the contest Australian Diamonds.#SPARProteas #WeAreAllIn

📸 Lauren Morgan | Netball Australia pic.twitter.com/PibPVvv1a3

— Netball South Africa (@Netball_SA) October 12, 2025

QUARTER SCORE BREAKDOWN

• Q1: SPAR Proteas 11 - 20 Aussie Diamonds

• Q2: SPAR Proteas 20 - 39 Aussie Diamonds

• Q3: SPAR Proteas 32 -49 Aussie Diamonds

• Q4: SPAR Proteas 42 - 65 Aussie Diamonds

 

© Netball South Africa

The Aussie Diamonds clinch the three-match series with a thumping 67-40 victory over the SPAR Proteas on Wednesday in Wollongong, Australia. South Africa made some costly mistakes that allowed the Diamonds victory.

The SPAR Proteas came into the second game of the three-match series with the understanding that they needed to win today to level the series ahead of the final match. Head Coach Jenny van Dyk made a few changes to her starting line up with the likes of Refiloe Nketsa, Nichole Breedt and Sanmarie Visser getting starts.

South Africa wanted to use their speed to catch the Aussie Diamonds off guard, however the hosts were aware of this plan and were quick to counter it. Tarle Marthe was brought into game halfway through the first quarter to marshal the midcourt. Errors by the SPAR Proteas did not help their course as Aussie Diamonds took the quarter 18 – 11.

In the second quarter, Aussie Diamonds continued where they left off at the end of the first quarter – they were putting the SPAR Proteas under enormous pressure and forcing them into unforced errors. Australia continued piling the goals on the other end and took the quarter 14 – 11 and had an overall lead of 32 -22 at halftime.

Kamogelo Maseko replaced captain Khanyisa Chawane just before halftime and in the championship quarter, van Dyk introduced Rolene Streukter and Owethu Ngubane in attack to replace Breedt and van der Berg. Australia exerted more pressure and displayed their experience in this quarter. They continued to dominate the game and extended their lead 50 -30.

Elmere van der Berg who had been rested took to court in the last quarter in an attempt to reduce Australian lead however this was not the case as world champs stood their ground – they continued to pile on the pressure on SPAR Proteas and did not allow them to execute their own game plan, At the end of the 60 minutes, it was the Diamonds that took the match 67 – 40 to clinch the series.

“I am really disappointed with our game today, no excuses will be made if anything, full accountability is what is needed. The work that we have put in as a team over the past couple of weeks doesn’t justify the performance that we showed today, everyone will be disappointed. There will always be ups and downs, if you’re going to be played No 1 and two in the world, then you need to brace yourself because they are definitely not waiting for South Africa to catch up and allowing us to just take what they have worked hard for over the years. The Aussies were just dominating in every department, lesson for us is to be always prepared and understand what it means to talk a big game and play one,” said SPAR Proteas Head Coach Jenny van Dyk.

Quarter Score Breakdown

Q1: SPAR Proteas 11 - 18 Aussie Diamonds

Q2: SPAR Proteas 22 - 32 Aussie Diamonds

Q3: SPAR Proteas 30 - 50 Aussie Diamonds

Q4: SPAR Proteas 40 - 67 Aussie Diamonds

SPAR Proteas Starting XII

GS – Elmere van der Berg; GA – Nichole Breedt; WA – Khanyisa Chawane ( C ); C- Refiloe Nketsa; WD – Shadine van der Merwe; GD – Sanmarie Visser; GK Nicola Smith

Shooting Stats:

Elmere van der Berg 23/28 (82 per cent)

Nichole Breedt 4/8 (50 per cent)

Owethu Ngubane 4/5 (80 per cent)

Rolene Streukter 9/11 (82 per cent)

 

The Aussie Diamonds clinch the three-match series with a thumping 67-40 victory over the SPAR Proteas on Wednesday.

South Africa made some costly mistakes that allowed the Diamonds to win the match.

The SPAR Proteas came into the second game of the three-match series with the understanding that they needed to win today in order to level the series ahead of the final match. Head Coach Jenny van Dyk made a few changes to her starting line up with the likes of Refiloe Nketsa, Nichole Breedt and Sanmarie getting starts.

South Africa wanted to use their speed to catch the Aussie Diamonds off guard, however the hosts were well aware of this plan and were quick to counter it. Tarle Marthe was brought into game half way through the first quarter so she can marshal the midcourt. Errors by the SPAR Proteas did not help their course as Aussie Diamonds took the quarter 18– 11.

In the second quarter, Aussie Diamonds continued where they left off at the end of the first quarter – they were putting the SPAR Proteas under enormous pressure and forcing them into unforced errors. Australia continued piling the goals on the other end and took the quarter 14 – 11 and had an overall lead of 32 -22 at halftime.

Kamogelo Maseko replaced captain Khanyisa Chawane just before halftime and in the championship quarter, van Dyk introduced Rolene Streukter and Owethu Ngubane in attack to replace Breedt and van der Berg. Australia exerted more pressure and displayed their experience in this quarter. They continued to dominate the game and extended their lead 50 -30.

Elmere van der Berg who had been rested took to court in the last quarter in an attempt to reduce Australian lead however this was not the case as world champs stood their ground – they continued to pile on the pressure on SPAR Proteas and did not allow them to execute their own game plan, At the end of the 60 minutes, it was the Diamonds that took the match 67 – 40 to clinch the series.

“I am really disappointed with our game today, no excuses will be made if anything, full accountability is what is needed. The work that we have put in as a team over the past couple of weeks doesn’t justify the performance that we showed today, everyone will be disappointed. There will always be ups and downs, if you’re going to be played No 1 and two in the world, then you need to brace yourself because they are definitely not waiting for South Africa to catch up and allowing us to just take what they have worked hard for over the years.

The Aussies were just dominating in every department, lesson for us is to be always prepared and understand what it means to talk a big game and play one,” said SPAR Proteas Head Coach Jenny van Dyk.

QUARTER SCORE BREAKDOWN

• Q1: SPAR Proteas 11 - 18 Aussie Diamonds

• Q2: SPAR Proteas 22 - 32 Aussie Diamonds

• Q3: SPAR Proteas 30 - 50 Aussie Diamonds

• Q4: SPAR Proteas 40 - 67 Aussie Diamonds

SPAR PROTEAS STARTING XII

GS – Elmere van der Berg; GA – Nichole Breedt; WA – Khanyisa Chawane ( C );

C- Refiloe Nketsa; WD – Shadine van der Merwe; GD – Sanmarie Visser; GK Nicola Smith

SHOOTING STATS:

Elmere van der Berg 23/28 (82%)

Nichole Breedt 4/8 (50%)

Owethu Ngubane 4/5 (80%)

Rolene Streukter 9/11 (82%)

Reigning world champions, Australia held their ground and continued their dominance over the SPAR Proteas with a 64 – 53 win over South Africa in Bendigo, Australia on Saturday.

When you compare the two nations, SPAR Proteas come into this match with at least ten test matches under their belt for 2025 while the Australian Diamonds were playing their first international of the year. The two have met 46 times and Australia are yet to taste defeat.

The SPAR Proteas took to court Saturday knowing that they need to put their best foot forward and do what they had never done before, which is to beat then current world champions.

Head Coach Jenny van Dyk has overtime maintained that to be the best you will need to play against the best – and this is what South Africa was aiming for today. While the Aussie Diamonds were the ones to get on the scoring board first, going three points clear in the opening few minutes of the opening quarter, the SPAR Proteas were very patient to be execute their game plan. It was not long before they levelled up.

The SPAR Proteas showed real character and showed up for every pass – they displayed grit and resilience; they kept giving as much as they got. At the end of the first quarter – the two were locked at 14 points each.

With both teams’ level at the start of the second quarter, the Aussie Diamonds ramped out their attack and made sure to pull away from the SPAR Proteas while restricting them from scoring as many goals. A quick four goals at the start of the quarter within 3 minutes shook the South African’s and that surge by Australia gave their home team the advantage throughout the rest of the match. As both teams went to halftime, it was Australia who were leading 34 -26.

van Dyk made a few changes going into the third quarter with the introduction of Owethu Ngubane and Sanmarie Visser in place of Khanyisa Chawane and Shadine van der Merwe. South Africa seemed to have been more determined to play catch up – van der Merwe was brought back into the match halfway through the quarter. At the end of the quarter, SPAR Proteas had scored 15 goals in response to Diamonds 16. Overall score after 45 minutes was 50 – 41 to Australia.

With Tarle Mathe’s legs growing tired, Coach van Dyk brought in Refiloe Nketsa in the centre to strengthen the midcourt. Australia kept applying the pressure on the SPAR Proteas, they made sure to keep peeling away from South Africa and eventually won the opening match 64 – 53.

Reflecting on the game, SPAR Proteas Head Coach Jenny van Wyk said “To be honest, it wasn’t a bad game for us as South Africa, taking on the best in the world is never an easy task but we did it. Our first quarter was good and everything that went wrong for us was in the second quarter. We lost the third quarter by a single point which demonstrated good game performance from our end. We know that we can be competitive as a team, there is a lot of improvement from our end. Our aim with the next match is to win, we do not just compete.”

QUARTER SCORE BREAKDOWN

Q1: SPAR Proteas 14 - 14 Aussie Diamonds

Q2: SPAR Proteas 26 - 34 Aussie Diamonds

Q3: SPAR Proteas 41 - 50 Aussie Diamonds

Q4: SPAR Proteas 53 - 64 Aussie Diamonds

SPAR PROTEAS STARTING XII

GS – Elmere van der Berg; GA – Kamogelo Maseko; WA – Khanyisa Chawane ( C ); C- Tarle Mathe; WD – Shadine van der Merwe; GD – Jamie van Wyk; GK Nicola Smith

SHOOTING STATS:

Elmere van der Berg 37/42 (88 per cent)

Kamogelo Maseko 11/59 (73 per cent)

Owethu Nguabane 5/7(71.4 per cent)

© Netball SA

The Spar Proteas will be hoping to end their Australasian tour with something to take home. South Africa will begin the last round of the tour against the current world champions, Australia, at the Red Energy Stadium in Bendigo on Saturday.

The first round saw South Africa leave New Zealand empty-handed after a whitewash at the hands of the Silver Ferns. However, the senior national team can take comfort in the improved performance towards the end of that series.

The Proteas will take on the Origin Diamonds in a three-test match series from 4 to 12 October. Although South Africa has not been able to defeat Australia in the 46 encounters the two have met, captain Khanyisa Chawane believes the performance the team delivered in New Zealand will be key to continue the momentum picked up in the first series and help them do well against the 12 times champions.

“I don’t think it is something we can put behind us. We are putting it as part of our process (to do well). We are looking to give Australia a challenge. Our mindset is on really wanting to do well. We want to finish off what we started. Yes, we are disappointed that we didn’t win, especially in the last game, but it gives us confidence and something to push us forward going into this new series,” says Chawane.

The coaches announced a strong 15-player squad for the tour Down Under, which includes two new call-ups in Entle Futshane and Juanita van Tonder. However, the duo is yet to earn their first caps in the green and gold. Van Dyk says the coaching staff, including assistant Zanele Mdodana, is pleased with how the team has been performing so far and that there may not be significant changes to the team that played in the Taini Jamison Cup.

“The 12 players that we have been running with have been doing a great job for us. The three new players have been training well, but for us it is also important to understand which players need the experience, the exposure, and have got what it takes to be able to perform for us. New Zealand and Australia have a different style of playing, and we have been working hard to make that transition to make the players understand the different styles and different approaches. We are in a process where we know what works for us, and we are always satisfied with the way we get things done.

It is about stepping up and making sure we know what kind of style we are going to put out there to get the results that we need. It is about managing our momentum. We are going in the right direction, and we know what we are working towards. I am proud of the players and the progress they have made,” says van Dyk.

The Proteas have had a chance to play in several countries this year, including Jamaica and England, where the home crowd came in handy for the hosts as the eighth player. Van Dyk says playing away will be key in preparing the players to have a strong mindset when the team travels to the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow next year, as well as in Australia for the 2027 Netball World Cup.

“It is something that we have discussed quite a lot. We understand the amount of pressure we are putting on the team to be able to travel, but for it is important for us to put out a product that the top four teams can play against in order to prepare for big competitions. It is more important that they play the best lines against us. It is difficult to play away, but we are looking at a bigger picture, being able to perform no matter where we are. But we are confident that we can run with the best,” she explains.

Newest centurion, Chawane, believes she is privileged to join an elite group of players who have represented the country a 100 times or more. She joins Bongiwe Msomi, Karla Pretorius, Erin Burger, Maryka Holtzhausen, and Phumza Maweni. Msomi has the most caps for South Africa, having played in 171 matches. Chawane says she’s proud of having represented the country 100 times.

“I consider myself blessed to be a centurion in South Africa. There are so many players who have contributed to this game, but there is only a few who have appeared a 100 times for the country. That is something I am really proud of and I am proud to be doing it with this group. A group that is willing to learn and willing to change the narrative. I am in a privileged position to lead this group. I am looking forward to seeing what this group can do,” says the skipper.

The SPAR Proteas will take on the world champion Australian Diamonds in a three-match series across three states in Australia. South Africa arrived in Australia earlier this week, fresh from their recent series against New Zealand.

Currently ranked fifth on the World Netball Rankings, the SPAR Proteas will come into this series highly motivated and determined to improve on past performances.

Head coach Jenny van Dyk has travelled with a 15-player squad, which includes two debutants: Entle Futshane and Juanita van Tonder. Van Dyk has emphasised that, for the Proteas to become one of the best teams in the world, they must consistently compete against and challenge higher-ranked opposition.

Flanking the coach was her captain Khanyisa Chawane, who recently celebrated her 100th test appearance for the SPAR Proteas. Chawane highlighted the importance of performing well against the world champions, and what it would mean to secure a win

“As a team we are very confident coming into this series, considering how well we played against New Zealand recently, we believe that we are growing, and we will be taking that momentum into this series. We are cautious as well however we understand what is required of us.

"Leading this team is a privilege I do not take lightly, and I am proud of how far we have come for such a young team. We are here to compete and build towards Commonwealth Games as well. No player should get there (CWG) and feel like they do not know what is expected of them” said SPAR Proteas Captain Khanyisa Chawane.

The two nations have met 46 times, with the Diamonds winning all encounters to date. The SPAR Proteas will be eager to change that record as soon as possible. The last meeting between the sides was in Hobart in 2023.

Jenny van Dyk, SPAR Proteas Head Coach said her team were settling in very well and she was thankful they no injuries to worry about.

“We have had few training sessions and practice matches just to get used to the new umpires – it has been good so far. This past series for us was an important one for us in terms of preparing for the future. I can confidently say that we’re in a good place at the moment and have less tension.

"We are coming here with a lot of self-confidence, and we understand that we can be among the strongest in the world. We now know what works for us, we need to step is and making that we get the desired results.

"It is about managing the momentum and ensuring that we construct a game that allows us to have four solid quarters. The team is headed in the right direction, we now know and understand what we are working towards. My players can put up a performance against the best”.

FIXTURES:

Saturday, 4 October – 11:30am

South Africa v Australia

Red Energy Stadium, Bendigo

Wednesday, 8 October – 10:30am

South Africa v Australia

Wollongong Entertainment Centre, Wollongong

Sunday, 12 October – 07:30am

South Africa v Australia

Adelaide Entertainment Centre, Adelaide

All three tests will be live on SuperSport Variety 4.

HEAD-TO-HEAD STATS

2016 = Australia 68-43 South Africa (Auckland)

2017 = Australia 62-46 South Africa (Durban)

2017 = Australia 58-52 South Africa (Canberra)

2018 = Australia 54-50 South Africa (London)

2018 = Australia 60-38 South Africa (Gold Coast)

2018 = Australia 61-44 South Africa (Auckland)

2019 = Australia 62-45 South Africa (Liverpool)

2019 = Australia 55-53 South Africa (Liverpool)

2022 = Australia 60-40 South Africa (London)

2022 = Australia 74-49 South Africa (Birmingham)

2023 = Australia 65-48 South Africa (Cape Town)

2023 = Australia 62-43 South Africa (Cairns)

2023 = Australia 67-52 South Africa (Hobart)

2023 = Australia 77-50 South Africa (Hobart)

Precious Mthembu says she is pleased with how the Spar Baby Proteas performed in the recently wrapped Netball World Youth Cup. South Africa reached their best finish in the global competition by getting into the top four.

Mthembu’s charges missed out on the podium finish after losing the bronze medal match 55-35 to England. In previous editions, South Africa had only managed to finish fifth, the 2025 edition is the team’s best-ever performance.

This year’s global spectacle featured 18 teams instead of the usual 20 after Zambia and Sri Lanka didn’t make it to Gibraltar. Africa was represented by South Africa and Malawi.

The junior national team had been drawn into Pool D with Barbados, Young Queens of Malawi, Fiji, and Trinidad and Tobago, which the Baby Proteas annihilated to progress to the quarterfinals.

Mthembu’s charges continued their ideal performance and knocked out the Cook Islands for a place in the semis, where they tasted their first defeat of the competition at the hands of eventual winners, Australia.

Mthembu says she’s proud of her players’ efforts.

“It’s been an incredible journey for the Spar Baby Proteas. We came in with clear goals of doing the best and a lot of determination, and the players gave everything from start to finish. This was evidenced by the goal margins, scoring 100 or more goals in our pool games.

"The Netball World Youth Cup showed the growth of the team and the belief that South Africa belongs at this level,” said Mthembu.

Acting Netball South Africa president, Mami Diale, set a mandate for the team before their departure, and they have been able to deliver.

“We are not putting pressure on them, but it will be good if we get into the top four. At least. But it will be better if we can have a podium so we can change the narrative of always being in the top five,” said Diale.

Mthembu and her assistant Phumza Maweni were able to steer the team to its first top-four finish. Former Spar Proteas wing defence says she’s thrilled to be part of the history-making team.

“It’s a huge honour and something I’m very proud of, not for myself as Precious Mthembu but for the Baby Proteas, for the country and for the federation. This achievement belongs to the entire team, including management, and to everyone who supported us at home. 

"We did it for everyone, especially for all our sponsors. Being the first coach to help take South Africa into the top four is a milestone, but it’s also just the beginning of where we want to go. I’m excited to see what lies ahead for these players,” she explained.

Mthembu said she’s in awe of the growth and composure her players showed throughout the competition.

“There were many, but a few stand out. The composure the players showed in tough situations, since back in South Africa when we competed in the Telkom Netball League and the Spar Championships. The pride of seeing the team celebrate victories together is something I’ll never forget.

"Every player contributed in their own way, and it was truly a team effort. Some individuals really stepped up their performances at times when it was needed. The leadership on the field from Phophi (Nematangari) and Karla (Victor) was amazing.

"I think it’s important to acknowledge the squad as a whole because everyone played a role in this achievement,” she said.

Mthembu reckons that more and regular competitions especially against top netball countries, will be key in shaping the future of the sport.

“Preparation is everything. The competition taught me that we need much more competition in South Africa. We needed to play against the top four netball countries to contest and know how far we are before going to the World Cup.

"The physicality and mental (strength) are another factor that needs to be looked at for our players. The key lesson is that South Africa can compete at the highest level, but we must keep building,” she said.

Spar Proteas coaches, Jenny van Dyk and Zanele Mdodana, will be looking to the junior team to reinforce their team in the future for the upcoming 2026 Commonwealth Games as well as the 2027 edition of the World Cup.

Goal shooter, Mbali Diphoko, is hopeful that her performance in Gibraltar will open doors for her to grow in the sport.

“I am really proud of how I played, and although we didn't get the outcome we wanted, finishing fourth overall is a huge achievement for us. It was an incredible experience playing with such talented players, and I'm grateful for the opportunity to have represented South Africa on the world stage.

"Playing in the Netball World Youth Cup was exciting. The energy, the competition, and the team spirit among teams were all so inspiring. I felt a sense of responsibility to give my best and make my country proud.

"The tournament was a fantastic learning experience, and I'm thankful for the memories and lessons I'll carry forward. This experience has opened doors for me, and I'm excited to see where my netball journey takes me next,” said Diphoko.

The Varsity Netball 2025 final at the Callie Human Hall in Bloemfontein delivered every ounce of drama fans could have hoped for. In front of a buzzing crowd, NWU overturned the odds to defeat defending champions UFS Kovsies 57–49.

 

🏆 Varsity Netball 2025 champions 🏆

Congratulations NWU on a superb comeback in the 4th quarter to beat UFS and be crowned champions for the the third time. #iLOVEit

Brought to you by FNB and Suzuki. pic.twitter.com/2BYDL0Ohfl

— Varsity Netball (@VarsityNetball) September 29, 2025

 

It is the Eagles’ third Varsity Netball title, and their first since 2016. The last time they played in a final was in 2022 when they were beaten by Maties.

After the singing of the national anthem, the first quarter got underway with NWU striking first to put points on the board, while Kovsies took time to find their rhythm. That shifted when Liame de Lange intercepted a crucial NWU pass, allowing Kovsies to level the score moments later. The home side then pulled ahead, but NWU responded smartly by slowing down the tempo and executing precise passes to close the gap.

Both teams made scoring difficult with strong defensive work and sharp attacking play, trading goals in a tightly contested opening period. Kovsies held a narrow 13–12 lead at the end of the first quarter.

In the second quarter, Kovsies realised that simply matching NWU goal for goal wouldn’t be enough. The defending champions attempted longer, riskier passes, but their accuracy began to falter. Eagles defenders Jessica Matjiu and Martine Jordaan worked tirelessly to curb Mari du Raan’s goal-scoring rhythm. As a result, both sides only managed to double their tallies. At halftime, Kovsies maintained a narrow 26–24 lead.

The penultimate 15 minutes saw the Eagles’ Sunel Smit make full use of her height advantage to keep the scoreboard ticking. In midfield, Tandolwetho Mokoena disrupted several NWU attacking plays at crucial moments, lifting the home crowd, who cheered loudly with every Kovsies goal. With both teams still holding back their power plays, the stage was set for a tense final quarter. While Kovsies maintained their consistent strike rate of 13 goals per quarter, NWU slipped further behind, managing only 10 in the period, and the scoreboard read 39–34.

In the final quarter, Du Raan and Xandri Fourie combined to dominate the Kovsies’ attacking circle, keeping their team in contention. After the first power play, the scores were level with six minutes remaining, setting up a thrilling finish. But as soon as NWU edged ahead, the Kovsies supporters were silenced for the first time all evening. During the second power play, Kovsies appeared deflated as NWU piled on unanswered goals, surging to a substantial lead. They sealed the victory with a final score of 57-49.

Quarter scores: 13-12 | 26-24 | 39-34 | 49-57

FNB Player of the Match: Sunel Smith (NWU)

FNB Player of the Tournament: Reratilwe Letsoalo (UFS Kovsies)

Suzuki Players’ Player of the Tournament: Cornelia Mupenda (UJ)

UFS Kovsies: Liame de Lange, Reratilwe Letsoalo, Elene Vosloo, Xandri Fourie, Charne van Vuuren, Chanique Eyberg, Mari du Raan, Thando Mokoena, Leane Otto, Megan Erasmus, Siyamthandanda Sambo, Mienke Delport.

NWU: Sunel Smit, Jaime Matfield, Andrya Joubert, Jessica Matjiu, Johanné Meyer, Amori Matthee, Christi-Mari Coetzee, Vivian Venancio, Jade Egwatu, Liane van Lochem, Casey Davids, Johanne Meyer, Martiné Jordaan

Although the Spar Proteas finished the Taini Jamison Trophy series with a whitewash, coach Jenny van Dyk believes the team is on the right track.

South Africa lost all three matches to New Zealand in their first stop of the Australasian tour. The Silver Ferns completely ran away with the first two matches, winning 77-51 and 70-58 respectively. However, van Dyk’s players came in hot in the third match and only lost the game on the last second by a single point, taking the game 57-56.

Van Dyk says she is pleased with the progress the team made in the series.

“I would describe the series as going from strength to strength. Obviously, we wanted to start on the note that we finished, unfortunately, we didn’t get to win in the end, but we have seen the players’ confidence growing. They are so coachable at the moment that at this rate of improvement, we can get excited about our long-term goals,” says van Dyk.

The Proteas looked set to upset the Ferns in the final match, having led from the first quarter, only to lose the clash. Van Dyk says the loss hurts, but she is happy with how her players handled themselves.

“It hurts a lot. It is one of the closest matches we have played against one of the best teams in the world. Those key moments at the end of the match, we have done a lot of work on while we are getting our players to be as competitive as possible. But these situations are so tricky to read, it comes with experience and exposure to competitive matches, where they can learn to handle those moments. It excites me so much to know that they did choose a strategy, even though the strategy didn’t give us a win. They are really taking accountability, reading the game, and they are thinking for themselves on the court. That is phenomenal to see,” she says.

The former Spar Baby Proteas coach believes there are pointers that the team will take going forward as preparations and build-up for the Commonwealth Games and the 2027 Netball World Cup continue.

“There are many lessons to take from this. We have about nine months left to the Commonwealth Games, and we have encountered five different styles, including those of Malawi, Uganda, England, Jamaica, and now New Zealand. Very different approaches to the games, and I think they (players) have a good understanding, they are getting a lot of notes, and we are hard at work with the eye on Australia (that’s) next. A good recovery will be needed before we take on Australia,” she explains.

The senior national team will be hoping to do better in their next series as they face the world champions. The Proteas will take on the Origin Diamonds in a three-test match series from 4 to 12 October. Although South Africa has not been able to defeat Australia in the 46 ties the two have met, van Dyk is confident her side will do well against the 12 times champions.

“We will approach the Australian leg very differently from the New Zealand leg. It is a very different style of play, but we are going there confident and ready to understand what intensity is required for us to be competitive. We have our work cut out for us, and our turnaround time is not that much, but we are probably as ready as we’ve ever been to take on Australia at this stage,” says the former Gauteng Jaguars coach.

The series saw captain Khanyisa Chawane join the centurion club. Former skipper Bongiwe Msomi, Karla Pretorius, Erin Burger, Maryka Holtzhausen, and Phumza Maweni are the other players who have donned the green and gold over a 100 times. Chawane made her Proteas debut in 2018 and has gone on to represent South Africa at two World Cups and played in six Africa Netball Cups.

“My 100th cap shows my resilience, heart, and my commitment towards this team. Through the ups and downs of the Proteas and being part of it. It has been an honour, and I just want to continue showing up for this team and do well. I am so proud of myself. I am looking forward to showing up even more for this group,” says Chawane.

Despite a spirited fight and achieving their best-ever finish at a Netball World Youth Cup, the Spar Baby Proteas fell just short of the podium after losing the bronze medal play-off against England, 55–35 at the 2025 Netball World Youth Cup in Gibraltar on Sunday evening.

The Spar Baby Proteas had enjoyed an impressive run in the tournament and were determined to close it out with a medal.

Both teams were cautious in the opening quarter. South African coach Precious Mthembu made a tactical change midway through, bringing on Renezia Andrews in place of Luane Smith, but England edged the quarter 9–8.

The second quarter followed a similar pattern, with both sides playing cautiously rather than the fast-paced netball seen earlier in the competition. England, however, capitalised on their chances and punished South Africa whenever they lost possession, taking a 25–15 lead into halftime.

Coach Mthembu made changes at the start of the third quarter in search of a response, knowing South Africa needed to take their opportunities to stay in the contest. However, the Spar Baby Proteas struggled to gain momentum, managing just 10 goals to England’s 13. At the end of the championship quarter, England led 38–25.

England pressed home their advantage in the final quarter as South Africa made costly errors in both midfield and attack. England were clinical, securing a 55–35 victory and with it the bronze medal.

“We gave our all against England in this match however we failed to capitalise on our turn overs, we had so many missed opportunities especially when the opponent was vulnerable" said Spar Baby Proteas Head Coach Precious Mthembu.

"Our attacking duo was carrying a lot on their shoulders, and it showed, Fatigue played part, you could see the tired legs and bodies on court today. No one likes to lose, but we will take this loss with the lessons that it came with. I am proud of my girls, and they have done themselves proud and the country proud as well.”

Quarter Score Breakdown:

Q1 – Spar Baby Proteas 08 – 09 England

Q2 - Spar Baby Proteas 15 – 25 England

Q3 - Spar Baby Proteas 25 – 38 England

Q4 - Spar Baby Proteas 35 – 55 England

Spar Baby Proteas Starting XII

GS -Giada Prinsloo; GA – Luane Smith; WA – Kayla Dames; C- Karla Victor; WD – Phophi Nematangari (C); GD –Luca Keun; GK – Ametisse Bandu

The SPAR Proteas put up a great fight against Silver Ferns in the last match of the series, however, it was New Zealand who snatched it at the last second to win 57–56.

SPAR Proteas Head Coach Jenny van Dyk made a few changes to her starting seven going into the third test against the Silver Ferns. Owethu Ngubane started alongside Elmére van der Berg in attack, while Jamie van Wyk joined Nicola Smith in defence.

South African captain Khanyisa Chawane joined an elite list of players to have donned the green and gold, as she took to court for the 100th time to represent her country.

The SPAR Proteas entered the match eager to secure a win and avoid a series whitewash. Nicola Smith kept Grace Nweke at bay in the opening quarter, while Ngubane and Van der Berg worked hard at the other end. South Africa finished the quarter 12–8 ahead – the second time in the series that the SPAR Proteas led the Silver Ferns after the first quarter.

🇳🇿🆚🇿🇦
💚💛 So close, so much fight. Proud of the heart, the grit, and the spirit. 🇿🇦

Thank you to the @SilverFernsNZ for a great contest. 🙌#SPARProteas #WeAreAllIn #KC100 pic.twitter.com/DHm1piC5xC

— Netball South Africa (@Netball_SA) September 28, 2025

The Proteas started the second quarter strongly, Ngubane scoring from the centre pass to continue their momentum. For the first time in forty meetings between the two nations, the SPAR Proteas led the Silver Ferns in two consecutive quarters. South Africa went into halftime leading 29–23.

The Silver Ferns came out of the changing rooms a different team, quick off the mark to reduce the Proteas’ lead. Coach Van Dyk introduced Kamogelo Maseko and Refilwe Nketsa in place of Chawane and Van der Merwe. South Africa reached another milestone in this match, winning the third quarter for the first time since 1965, and holding a 43–41 lead going into the final break.

Nichole Breedt made her second appearance of the series when she came on in the last quarter. The Proteas were dealt a huge blow when Nicola Smith was sent off three minutes into the period, giving the Silver Ferns the advantage to close the gap and edge ahead.

The Proteas refreshed their line-up with the reintroduction of Ngubane and Van der Merwe. South Africa pushed the Silver Ferns right to the last second, but it was New Zealand who scored the decisive goal with just two seconds left on the clock to clinch the match 57–56.

Speaking after the series, centurion, and captain Khanyisa Chawane “I am immensely proud of the team and what we have been able to achieve, looking at where we started at the start of the series compared to how we finished. This is testament to the growth of the team. Every player showed up and gave their best. It is sad how we lost it at the end.

“Today’s performance was a brilliant one out of the three games played in the series, this is the kind of performance we need to showcase if we want to play against the top three regularly. One of the biggest thing for me as a coach is that we can’t walk into commonwealth games and play New Zealand for the first time there – we would not enough time to prepare for that, said SPAR Proteas Head Coach Jenny van Dyk. ,” said SPAR Proteas Assistant Coach Zanele Mdodana.

Quarter Score Breakdown: 
Q1 – SPAR Proteas 12 – 08 Sliver Ferns   
Q2 - SPAR Proteas 29 – 23 Sliver Ferns 
Q3 - SPAR Proteas 43 – 41 Sliver Ferns 
Q4 - SPAR Proteas 56 – 57 Sliver Ferns 

© Netball South Africa

In the second semifinal match of the day, Australia denied the Spar Baby Proteas the chance to reach the final of the 2025 Netball World Youth Cup in Gibraltar, winning 67–36 to book their place against arch-rivals New Zealand. New Zealand beat England 50-48 in a dramatic first semifinal.

🇦🇺🆚🇿🇦

Not mean’t to be, but they gave it their all! They made us proud. 🇿🇦💛💚

The SPAR Baby Proteas face England in the Bronze Medal match — Sunday, 28 September at 17:00. 🇿🇦✨#SPARBabyProteas #WeAreAllIn #NWYC2025GIB

📸 @WorldNetball_ @NetballWorldCup pic.twitter.com/LtaMGf22cx

— Netball South Africa (@Netball_SA) September 26, 2025

The Spar Baby Proteas will now face England in the bronze medal play-off on Sunday.

The Baby Proteas entered the semifinal as underdogs, despite having recorded a superior goal difference during the group stages. South Africa knew they would need to deliver their very best performance against the Aussies to set up a date with New Zealand in the final.

Australia defeated the SPAR Baby Proteas 67–36 in the semi-finals of the 2025 Netball World Youth Cup in Gibraltar. South Africa will now face England in the bronze medal play-off on Sunday.

👉 https://t.co/loTgk14Tzh#SPARBabyProteas #WeAreAllIn #NWYC2025GIB

📸 @WorldNetball_ pic.twitter.com/JKBQb0ZNbc

— Netball South Africa (@Netball_SA) September 26, 2025

Australia, however, were determined not to surrender their opportunity to reach the final and go one better than in 2017. They were first off the mark, applying relentless pressure on the South Africans, who were forced out of their usual rhythm into long passes that favoured the Aussies. At the end of the first quarter, Australia led 19–9.

The second quarter unfolded much the same way, with Australia continuing to press hard. The Spar Baby Proteas began to settle midway through the quarter, but it was too late to halt Australia’s momentum, as South Africa were restricted to just eight goals in reply to 15.

Head coach Precious Mthembu introduced changes at the start of the championship quarter in search of a spark, but Australia proved the stronger of the two sides, extending their advantage to 48–21 after 45 minutes.

In the final quarter, Australia kept their foot on the pedal to ensure an all-Australasian final against New Zealand. They maintained dominance, pinned the Spar Baby Proteas in their own half, and held them to their lowest-scoring match of the tournament.

Mthembu said that the loss was a tough one against the Aussies. “We really tested ourselves tonight. It was interesting to see where we stood at this level. We lost too many passes in transitions. When we turned the ball, we could not convert, and against a team like Australia, you really get punished by those errors.

"It’s impossible to play a catch-up game against a team like Australia. Now we need to learn from the loss and focus on our bronze medal match against England on Sunday and put every effort into a podium finish.”

Quarter Score Breakdown:

Q1 – SPAR Baby Proteas 09 – 19 Australia

Q2 - SPAR Baby Proteas 17 – 34 Australia

Q3 - SPAR Baby Proteas 27 – 48 Australia

Q4 - SPAR Baby Proteas 36 – 67 Australia

The SPAR Baby Proteas edged their names in the history books on Thursday as they beat Cook Islands 79 -45 to book South Africa a first ever semifinal spot at the 2025 Netball World Youth Cup in Gibraltar.

The victory for Head Coach Precious Mthembu and her troops allows them an opportunity to compete for a podium finish.

Cook Islands were quick to get off the mark hoping to catch South Africa off guard – this plan seemed to work temporarily however the SPAR Baby Proteas recovered with speed, settled and found their feet. At the end of the opening quarter, the SPAR Baby Proteas were leading with five points taking the quarter 18 -13.

In the second quarter, South Africa steadily pulled away from their opponents, putting pressure on Cook Islands going into the halftime break leading 38 – 21.

At the start of the championship quarter, the SPAR Proteas made come changes and fresh legs paid off as South Africa managed to score 17 goals in response to Cook Islands’ 14.

The SPAR Baby Proteas were well on track to creating history – the team had never finished anywhere higher than fifth in this tournament – and knew a win on Thursday would put them into the tournament’s top four.

After 45 minutes SPAR Baby Proteas were cruising comfortably and went into the final quarter leading 55 -45.

Cook Islands continued to put up a solid fight, but it wasn’t enough to deny the SPAR Baby Proteas an opportunity to go into their first ever Netball World Youth Cup semifinal. At the end of the match, South Africa secured their last four spot with a 79 – 45 win and will now face off against four-time world champions and current silver medallist Australia on Friday 26th September.

“I am incredibly proud of the girls; I am actually tearing up. This is history in the making because we have finally secured a quarterfinal victory and booked a semifinal spot, this has never happened before. The girls believed in each other, supported one another and this is unbelievable. This win is testament to the discipline, hard work, and determination by the girls throughout the journey. We now need to shift focus to tomorrow’s game against Australia,” said an emotional SPAR Baby Proteas Head Coach Precious Mthembu.

Quarter Score Breakdown:

Q1 – SPAR Baby Proteas 18 – 13 Cook Islands

Q2 - SPAR Baby Proteas 38 – 21 Cook Islands

Q3 - SPAR Baby Proteas 55 – 35 Cook Islands

Q4 - SPAR Baby Proteas 79 – 45 Cook Islands

SPAR Baby Proteas Starting XII

GS -Mbali Diphoko; GA – Giada Prinsloo; WA – Renezia Andrews; C- Karla Victor ( C); WD – Zahrah Noah ( C ); GD –Kiara van Eeden; GK – Luca Keun

 

Precious Mthembu SPAR Baby Proteas Head Coach- IsiZulu

Phumza Maweni, SPAR Baby Proteas Assistant Coach- IsiXhosa

Karla Victor, SPAR Baby Proteas player- Afrikaans

The SPAR Baby Proteas continued with their 2025 Netball World Youth Cup winning streak as they dominated Fiji 86 -35 in their final Pool D match. The two nations met for the fourth time and South Africa are yet to taste defeat against the Pacific Islanders.

South Africa remains unbeaten in the tournament

SPAR Proteas Head Coach, Precious Mthembu’s charges plan. to carry their winning streak into the quarterfinals on Thursday where they come up against Cook Islands for a place in the semifinals. South Africa have never reached the last four of the global show pieces.

Mthembu made some changes to her starting seven, giving a few of the players that started the opening first three Pool matches a rest. As one would have expected, SPAR Baby Proteas were the first to draw blood and immediately put Fiji on the back foot with the fast-paced game. At the end of the first quarter, South Africa enjoyed a 23 -5 lead.

In the second quarter, South Africa managed to contain the Fijian attack and restricted them to scoring only 7 goals in reply to the SPAR Baby Proteas 21.

The Championship quarter saw the SPAR Baby Proteas flying high with the team continuing to press Fiji as best as they could and making sure that they restrict them in their own half. At the end of the quarter, South Africa led the game 67 – 22.

The final quarter saw Fiji fighting hard, but the SPAR Baby Proteas contained the onslaught winning the quarter 20-13.

The South Africa v Cook Islands game will start at 19:00 CAT on Thursday 25 September 2025 and will be streamed live on Netball Pass and Netball World Cup YouTube channel.

South Africa’s highest finish at the Netball World Youth Cup is fifth and Mthembu and her charges have set their eyes on improving that and doing better in this year’s edition.

“I am very pleased with the team’s performance today and getting a win against a strong opposition like Fiji. The results set us up nicely for quarterfinal match against Cook Islands. We now must shift our attention and focus on that match. Fortunately for us, we had a practice match against them when we got here so we have a better understanding of what to expect tomorrow,” said a delighted Mthembu.

QUARTER SCORE BREAKDOWN:

Q1 – SPAR Baby Proteas 23 – 05 Fiji

Q2 - SPAR Baby Proteas 44 – 12 Fiji

Q3 - SPAR Baby Proteas 67 – 22 Fiji

Q4 - SPAR Baby Proteas 86 – 35 Fiji

SPAR Baby Proteas Starting XII

GS -Mbali Diphoko; GA – Giada Prinsloo; WA – Renezia Andrews; C- Karla Victor ( C); WD – Zahrah Noah ( C ); GD –Kiara van Eeden; GK – Luca Keun

 

SPAR Baby Proteas claimed bragging rights and affirmed African supremacy with a 64 – 33 win over Malawi in their third group D match at the 2025 Netball World Youth Cup.

With Malawi and SPAR Baby Proteas being the only two African teams in the tournament, a battle for continental supremacy was the order of the day when the two nations met. Both teams came into the match with two wins respectively and it was South Africa who had a superior goal difference.

Unlike the other two nations that the SPAR Baby Proteas had played, Malawi was as expected physical, however this did not derail South Africa as they challenged for every ball and stood their ground – at the end of the opening quarter, the SPAR Baby Proteas enjoyed a 16 -9 lead.

Malawi came back stronger in the second quarter and limited South Africa’s movements and forcing them to play long passes to the advantage of Malawi. The quarter was fiercely contested with SPAR Baby Proteas narrowly winning it 13 – 10 taking the overall score to 29 -19 in favour of South Africa at the halftime break.

The SPAR Baby Proteas came into the second half a rejuvenated team and quickly got off the starting blocks to ensure that they extent their lead in the match. However, Malawi weren’t going to sit back take it, they punched back as much as they got – after 15 minutes of play, it was the SPAR Baby Proteas that took the championship quarter 15 – 12 to move the score to 44 – 27 in their favour.

South Africa stepped up in the final quarter restricting the Malawi attack and ended the match with a welcome victory against their continental arch-rivals.

“It was a tough game against Malawi, we were very untidy, and we were terribly slow. We struggled to get into our own rhythm – this is something that we expected against a physical Malawi side. They interrupted our structure on court, and we took too long to settle. Eventually we got to it, the team showed up and managed to get a win,” said Precious Mthembu – SPAR Baby Proteas Head Coach

South Africa’s next and final pool match will be against FIJI on Wednesday 24th September 2025 at 19:00.

Quarter Score Breakdown:

Q1 – SPAR Baby Proteas 16 – 09 Malawi

Q2 - SPAR Baby Proteas 29 – 19 Malawi

Q3 - SPAR Baby Proteas 44 – 27 Malawi

Q4 - SPAR Baby Proteas 64 – 33 Malawi

SPAR Baby Proteas Starting XII

GS – Mbali Diphoko; GA – Luane Smith; WA – Karla Victor; C- Kyla Dames; WD – Phophi Nematangari ( C ); GD – Zahrah Noah ; GK – Ametisse Bandu.

Defending champions UFS Kovsies beat Maties while NWU brushed aside UJ in the semifinals to set up an exciting showdown in the Varsity Netball 2025 final. It will take place on 29 September in Bloemfontein (7pm). The last time the two sides met in the final was in 2013 when Kovsies beat the Eagles by four goals. NWU last won the title in 2016 while Kovsies will be looking to add a sixth trophy to their collection.

NWU 55 – UJ 28

NWU put any hopes of UJ for a third consecutive appearance in the final to rest with a commanding semifinal victory in the NWU Mafikeng Great Hall in Mahikeng.

From the first whistle, the Eagles asserted themselves with strong defence and quick transitions onto attack. Their intensity forced UJ to work hard for every opportunity, while the home team converted their opportunities with ease. This took them to a 14-6 lead at the end of the first quarter.

The second quarter followed a similar pattern. The Orange Army battled to turn their possession into goals, while NWU continued to punish mistakes. With their defensive unit closing down passing lanes and their shooters maintaining accuracy, the Eagles extended their advantage to 29-12 at halftime.

UJ made several changes in the third quarter in an attempt to close the gap, and the fresh legs initially brought renewed energy. They managed to find more scoring opportunities and put some pressure on their opponents. The Eagles however maintained their composure, keeping the scoreboard ticking and ending the quarter with a healthy 44-19 cushion.

The final 15 minutes produced a spirited contest. NWU kept control of the game with well-structured attacking moves. They adapted to any changes UJ made and absorbed the pressure until the final whistle, securing a convincing 58-28 victory to advance to next week’s final and the chance to add yet another trophy to their cabinet.

Quarter scores: 14-6 | 29-12 | 44-19 | 55-28

Player of the match: Christi-Marie Coetzee (NWU)

NWU: Sunel Smit, Jaime Matfield, Andrya Joubert, Jessica Matjiu, Johanné Meyer, Amori Matthee, Christi-Mari Coetzee, Vivian Venancio, Jade Egwatu, Liane van Lochem, Casey Davids, Johanne Meyer.

UJ: Alexandra Meimaris, Juanika Steinmann, Minette Erasmus, Luyanda Msomi, Yanke Broodryk, Kamogelo Motsepe, Cornelia Mupenda, Sli Ngcobo, Tassnique Norman, Jade Niemand, Kaneilwe Seopa, Makayla Edgecomb.

UFS KOVSIES 46 – 35 MATIES

The Bloemfontein fortress that is the Callie Human Hall held strong as Kovsies had to dig deep to see off a determined Maties in their efforts of a successful title defence. The defending giants had history on their side, but Maties arrived with unfinished business, still stung from their round 7 collapse after leading by six at halftime.

From the first whistle, the Maroon Machine looked to control possession, but Liame de Lange struck early with two interceptions before Kovsies netted their opener. Maties quickly realised there was no room for error. Under pressure, Kovsies fed off the home crowd to edge the first quarter 11–9.

Maties slowed the tempo in the next 15 minutes and grew in confidence as Hanna Kriel stayed deadly accurate. Yet Kovsies’ experience shone through, their senior players keeping the scoreboard ticking. By halftime they had pulled clear, 24–16.

The third quarter swung Maties’ way, with Kriel repeatedly escaping De Lange and Reratilwe Letsoalo’s long reach. The Maroon Machine capitalised on the power play to narrow the gap, but Kovsies steadied to hold a 34–31 advantage heading into the final stretch.

The last quarter was a battle of basics, both teams disciplined under pressure. But when the power play arrived, Kovsies pounced, stretching their lead beyond reach. A late Maties goal proved only consolation as the Bloemfontein side sealed a commanding 46–35 victory and their place in the final.

Quarter scores: 11-9| 24-16 | 34-31 | 46-35

Player of the match: Liame de Lange (UFS Kovsies)

UFS KOVSIES: Liame de Lange, Reratilwe Letsoalo, Elene Vosloo, Xandri Fourie, Charne van Vuuren, Chanique Eyberg, Mari du Raan, Thando Mokoena, Leane Otto, Megan Erasmus, Syamthandanda Sambo, Mienke Delport.

MATIES: Hannah Kriel, Michelle van der Merwe, Lara Ehlers, Lize Rossouw, Syntiche Kabuya, Juane Maass, Thabisa Yekani, Bianca Odendaal, Chloe Parsadh, Kristine McGregor, Lara Steenkamp, Jana Martin.