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Netball South Africa have announced a formidable Spar Proteas squad for the upcoming Spar Challenge international test series against the Malawi Queens, set to take place in Johannesburg from 31 October to 3 November, 2024.
From the squad of 15 players, the Proteas team of 12 players will be announced by Head Coach Jenny van Dyk at the pre-series media conference on Tuesday, 29 October, 2024.
As per international regulations, the 12-player team announced on 29 October will be committed to play the first test on 31 October 2024, but for the remaining two tests on 2 – and 3 November, Van Dyk may make changes to her team from the original 15 squad players.
The team will be captained by Khanyisa Chawane with Karla Pretorius as assistant captain. The highly-experienced Pretorius holds a special place in the Proteas-Malawi rivalry and, of the current squad, she has played the most games against Malawi of any of the other squad players, featuring in nine matches since her debut in 2011.
Khanyisa Chawane and Ine-Marí Venter also have extensive experience against the Queens, with Chawane facing them six times and Venter four.
The highly-anticipated clash will bring a thrilling three-match netball test series between the two African netball powerhouses to the iconic Ellis Park Arena in Johannesburg in a series which promises to reignite the fierce competition between these African netball giants.
Jenny van Dyk became the new head coach of the Spar Proteas earlier this year, with Zanele Mdodana taking on the role of assistant coach, and the Malawi test series will mark their first time working together on the side-lines. Van Dyk is confident the squad selected understands the assignment and is up to the task.
“We’ve been working hard and discussed in detail what fitness level we want to be on when we compete internationally. Obviously, when we move into camp on Thursday, that’s the first thing we will be testing.”
Spar Proteas Head Coach, Jenny van Dyk
“We’ve done our homework on Malawi; even in our previous camp, we have spent some time making sure everybody understands what we’re up against. The pre-competition camp allows us just to fine-tune,” said Van Dyk. “It is an important part of the process for our first test series. We want to start strong. We’ve worked very hard in our units back home. The expectation is that we hit the ground running.”
On the other hand, Mdodana said it was “a surreal feeling to have come full circle” from playing against Malawi as a Protea to now coaching them. The former captain knows just how difficult Malawi are to play against.
“I’ve faced some of the strongest Malawi teams ever assembled. I captained the Proteas in the 2012 Diamond Challenge, where we lost to Malawi in the round-robin stage. Despite concerns, we rallied together and ultimately won the tournament. This is our first Test Series as a coaching duo with Jenny. I’m eager to prove myself on the international stage.”
Spar Proteas Assistant Coach, Zanele Mdodana
South Africa holding the fifth position on the global ranking and Malawi currently ranked seventh, will battle for continental supremacy. The historical rivalry runs deep, with South Africa seeking to maintain its recent dominance after claiming victory in the 2020 Challenge series.
The Proteas have a strong majority of wins in their head-to-head tally, securing 25 victories against 12 losses, with only a single draw recorded in all their encounters.
South Africa’s most emphatic win came in 2020 when they defeated Malawi by a staggering 41-goal margin (69-28) in the 2020 Challenge staged at Sun City. Malawi’s biggest victory over South Africa came in a curtain raiser match to Australia vs New Zealand, with a 24-goal triumph (61-37) in 2011 in Perth.
The host nation’s highest-scoring match against Malawi was a 77-53 victory at the 1995 World Netball Championships in Birmingham, while Malawi’s best offensive performance came in 2011, scoring 61 goals against South Africa in that Perth curtain raiser match.
Spar Proteas Netball Squad for the Challenge Series vs Malawi in Johannesburg from 31 October to 3 November, 2024
Khanyisa Chawane (Captain)Karla Pretorius (Assistant Captain)Ine-Marí VenterRolene StreutkerElmeré van der BergOwethu NgubaneNicholé BreedtKamogelo MasekoRefiloe NketsaTarle MatheJeanté StrydomJamie van WykBoitumelo MahlokoNicola SmithAné Retief
Technical Team
Head Coach – Jenny van DykAssistant Coach – Zanele MdodanaTeam Manager – Vinolia AustinPhysiotherapy and Conditioning – Fikile PhashaStrength Conditioning – Werner BothaTeam Analyst – Michele van Rooyen
Original Copy: Netball SA, with editing by gsport
Main Photo Caption: Newly-appointed Spar Proteas captain Khanyisa Chawane will lead South Africa for the first time in an International test series, against Malawi in the Spar Challenge at the Ellis Park Arena in Johannesburg from 31 October to 3 November, 2024. Photo: Reg Caldecott
Photo 2 Caption: Along with Khanyisa Chawane and Karla Pretorius, Ine-Marí Venter also has extensive experience against the Malawi Queens. Photo: Reg Caldecott
Photo 3 Caption: Kamogelo Maseko has been named Proteas Goal Attack for the international test squad against Malawi. Photo: Reg Caldecott
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