Two weeks after the official appointment of Precious Mthembu as the Baby SPAR Proteas Head Coach together with Phumza Maweni, the duos first assignment was the Netball World Youth Cup 2025 Regional Qualifiers in Pretoria.
South Africa last played at the Netball World Youth Cup some eight years ago and this is an opportunity for them to make a return there again come next year September in Gibraltar. The Proteas opened the first match day with an encounter against Tanzania.
The team was playing together for the first time on Sunday but the hosts were quick to send a clear message to their opponents as soon as the whistle went. The Proteas restricted Tanzania to only scoring seven goals over an entire match while they put 75 past them.
The win for South Africa was a great confidence booster ahead of their second match of the match against Zambia to close off first day of play. It was difficult to choose who would be Player of the Match from the South African side as all the players that took to court were outstanding, in the end it was Sanmarie Visser who took home the award.
Second match of the day was a battle between Kenya and Zimbabwe, with both teams also seeking to secure their seat at next year’s Netball World Youth Cup. Unlike the first match, this was a bit more competitive with both teams going at each other. At the end it was Zimbabwe who came up tops winning the match 49-39.
Malawi squared off against Namibia in the third match of the day and it was Malawi who was the stronger of the two sides as they gave their Namibian counterparts a run for their money as they thrashed them 43-28.
Games took a break to make for the official opening ceremony of the tournament. The event was attended by few government dignitaries from both municipality and provincial level.
The last match of the day saw hosts South Africa take on Zambia. Coach Mthembu made a few changes to her starting seven and gave some of the players who didn’t play in the first clash a starting run. The Proteas started quickly and converted their chances early, Zambia, on the other hand only drew blood after four minutes as the Proteas' defence and discipline that kept Zambia at bay. At the end of the first quarter South Africa had of lead of 23-4 and in the second quarter they had extended their lead to 35 to Zambia’s seven. At the end of the match, it was the home side that finished as victors, winning the match 72 -9.
Monday's fixtures
8am - Namibia v Tanzania
10am - Zambia v Zimbabwe
4pm - Zimbabwe v South Africa
6pm - Tanzania v Zambia
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