Johannesburg put in a commendable effort to secure a chance at achieving a hat-trick of consecutive titles as they prepare to face Mangaung in the final of the SPAR National Netball Championships hosted by the City of Johannesburg. This follows the Semi-Finals results at Ellis Park Arena in the City of Johannesburg on Friday, 6 December 2024.
The hosts faced a tough challenge from Dr Kenneth Kaunda, who almost caused an upset by leading the two-time defending champions by five goals after the first quarter of the semi-final. They maintained a one-goal lead at half-time and still held on to that lead at the end of the third period.
Despite the pressure, the home team kept their composure, taking the lead for the first time three minutes into the final quarter and consolidating their position in the last eight minutes to clinch a 41-34 victory.
Once again, the Dr Kenneth Kaunda team faced challenges of their own. While they displayed impressive defense, their shooting percentage was only 62% compared to Johannesburg’s 93%. They also created 55 scoring opportunities compared to the home side’s 44.
Johannesburg coach and former SPAR Proteas captain Dr Elsjé Jordaan expressed her nerves were on edge after the intense victory, but she remained quietly confident in her team’s ability to secure the win.
“Interestingly, I never felt we were out of the game. I believed we made unnecessary errors due to our decision-making not being at its best,” she said.
“Then halfway through the second quarter, I could feel the momentum shifted.”
Johannesburg coach and former SPAR Proteas captain Dr Elsjé Jordaan
Reflecting on reaching the final, Jordaan added: “It’s our third final, which is very special. It’s not something that happens easily in a championship like this. It holds significant value for us as a team, and we are thrilled. Playing in a final is always an honor, and we are eagerly anticipating it.”
Johannesburg captain Didintle Keebine mentioned that they experienced initial “jitters” but were proud of how the team rallied and overcame challenges.
“It was a very tough game. Our start has been a bit shaky but we really pulled through… We fought back, we did great and I’m really proud of my team.”
Johannesburg captain Didintle Keebine
Later in the day, Mangaung secured their spot in the final with a 50-45 victory over Cape Winelands in their semifinal, setting up a repeat of last year’s final against Johannesburg. Similar to the earlier semi-final, the match proved to be intense, with the Cape side taking an early lead and maintaining momentum to lead 26-20 at half-time.
However, similar to Johannesburg’s performance, Mangaung clawed their way back into the match with an impressive third quarter. They outscored Winelands 16-6 to take the lead for the first time and held on for a four-goal victory.
Martha Mosoahle-Samm mentioned that playing the second semifinal of the day benefited her side.
“We looked at how Johannesburg struggled against Dr KK, and I was sitting there thinking this is what’s going to happen to us as well. I actually spoke to the girls and said: ‘This is how a semifinal looks. You’re going to have to dig deep, come back and fight hard.”
Mangaung coach Martha Mosoahle-Samm
Regarding the plan to reverse the result of last year’s final where Mangaung finished as runners-up, the former SPAR Proteas captain expressed their determination to win this year.
“We will be ready for the final tomorrow. I think we don’t want to lose it for the second time. Last year it was so close but yet so far… we are in this and we want it so badly.”
Mangaung captain, Xandri Fourie
In the under-21 tournament, defending champions Tshwane defeated Dr Kenneth Kaunda 48-36 to secure a place in the final against Johannesburg after the hosts beat Cape Town 38-30 in their semifinal.
Tickets for the games will be available online at [email protected] as well as at the venue for R30. Safe and secure parking will be available at Ellis Park Swimming Pool for R10 per car.
Final Fixtures of the Senior and U21 Spar National Netball Championships, at Ellis Park Arena on Saturday, 7 December, 2024
U21 A Section Final
09h30: Johannesburg A vs Tshwane A
Senior A Section Final
11h00: Johannesburg A vs Mangaung A
Senior and U21 Semi-Final Results on Friday, 6 December, 2024
Senior A Section
Johannesburg A bt DR Kenneth Kaunda A 41-34Mangaung bt Cape Winelands A 50-45
U21 A Section
Johannesburg A bt Cape Town A 38-30Tshwane A bt Dr Kenneth Kaunda 48-26
Senior and U21 Results on Thursday, 5 December, 2024
Senior A
Dr Kenneth Kaunda A bt Ekurhuleni A 55-26Johannesburg A bt Cape Winelands 56-43SA U/21 bt Nelson Mandela Bay A 51-47Mangaung A bt eThekwini A 63-31Tshwane A bt Cape Town A 54-52Johannesburg A bt Nelson Mandela Bay A 54-40Mangaung A bt Dr Kenneth Kaunda A 41-44Cape Winelands bt eThekwini A 56-35Tshwane A bt Ekurhuleni A 56-45Cape Town A bt SA U21 49-48
U21 A
Dr Kenneth Kaunda A bt Mangaung 46-34Johannesburg A bt Cape Town A 50-25Tshwane A bt Zululand 42-21
Senior and U21 Results on Wednesday, 4 December, 2024
Senior A
Tshwane A bt eThekwini 53-36Nelson Mandela Bay A bt Ekurhuleni A 41-39Johannesburg A bt SA U/21 53-46Mangaung A bt Cape Town A 55-53Cape Winelands bt Ekurhuleni A 56-19Johannesburg A bt Dr Kenneth Kaunda A 43-36Nelson Mandela Bay A bt eThekwini A 56-30Mangaung A bt Tshwane A 58-47Cape Town A drew Cape Winelands 49-49SA U/21 bt Dr Kenneth Kaunda A 43-40
U21 A
Cape Town A bt Mangaung 50-37Dr Kenneth Kaunda A drew Johannesburg A 40-40Mangaung bt Johannesburg A 52-29Tshwane A bt Dr Kenneth Kaunda A 51-40
A Section Results on Tuesday, 3 December, 2024
Nelson Mandela Bay 45 – 51 Cape TowneThekwini 34 – 33 EkurhuleniDr Kenneth Kaunda 41 – 39 Cape WinelandsMangaung 50 – 47 JohannesburgTshwane 45 – 45 Nelson Mandela BayCape Town 69 – 46 eThekwiniTshwane 53 – 59 Dr Kenneth KaundaCape Winelands 53 – 37 SA U21Johannesburg 63 – 32 EkurhuleniMangaung 50 – 42 Nelson Mandela BayCape Winelands 62 – 44 TshwaneeThekwini 34 – 53 Dr Kenneth KaundaCape Town 42 – 58 JohannesburgEkurhuleni 33 – 61 SA U21Mangaung 53-42 SA U21
A Section Results on Monday, 2 December, 2024
Cape Town 57 – 45 EkurhuleniCape Winelands 56 – 24 Nelson Mandela BayJohannesburg 69 – 35 eThekwiniTshwane 48 – 42 SA U21Mangaung 63 -27 EkurhuleniDr Kenneth Kaunda 51 – 30 Nelson Mandela BayeThekwini 44 – 53 SA U21Johannesburg 63 – 42 TshwaneMangaung 46 – 51 Cape WinelandsDr Kenneth Kaunda 47 – 51 Cape Town
Original Copy: Netball SA, with editing by gsport
Main Photo Caption: Lefébre Rademan of Mangaung and Syntiche Kabuya of Cape Winelands contest possession of the ball during semi-finals action at the 2024 Spar National Netball Championships at Ellis Park Netball in Johannesburg, on Friday, 6 December, 2024. All Photos: Reg Caldecott
Photo 2 Caption: A display of speed and skill between Johannesburg captain Didintle Keebine and Dr Kenneth Kaunda’s Tlotlang Mokomela was settled in favour of the hosts.
Photo 3 Caption: Lefébre Rademan and Cape Winelands’ Danelle van Nieuwenhuizen in action in the battle which was settled in favour of finalists Mangaung.
Photo 4 Caption: Nonsikelelo Mazibuko of Johannesburg and Martiné Jordaan of Dr Kenneth Kaunda in action during day 5, ahead of finals day on Saturday.
