The Spar Proteas cruised to a second win at the 2024 Africa Netball Cup, leading the continental tournament’s Pool 1 by a healthy margin as they continue their campaign to regain the coveted African title in Swakopmund, Namibia, on Tuesday, 10 December, 2024.
Undefeated South Africa eased to their second 65-35 win on the second day of the tournament’s fixtures on Tuesday by a similar margin to each of their three wins against the African competitors in the just-completed Spar Challenge International Netball test Series in Johannesburg, during October and November.
With each of the other teams in South Africa’s Pool 1 having suffered at least 1 loss, the Spar Proteas are now guaranteed to make the knockout round’s semi-finals on Friday, where they will likely play Pool 2’s second-best finisher if they pick up a third win at the conclusion of the round-robin fixtures on Thursday.
South Africa’s final group-stage match will follow Wednesday’s rest day on Thursday against Zambia, who have already lost to 52-39 to Malawi in their opening tie, and Assistant Coach Zanele Mdodana and the Spar Proteas will be keen to reward Head Coach Jenny van Dyk with an unbeaten streak for the ultimate birthday present.
With the re-arranged fixtures following the withdrawal of Lesotho from Pool 2, Tuesday’s first women’s match saw Zimbabwe earn an emphatic win over Eswatini to remain unbeaten in the competition to date, and they will face a motivated Namibia in Zimbabwe’s final fixture as both look to end with the best finish to top the log in search of the earlier semi-final tie.
Hosts Namibia, who earned a satisfactory win over Eswatini in their tie on opening day, will take on Zimbabwe and Uganda in their two closing ties on Wednesday and Thursday and will hope for comfortable wins in the lead-in to the tournament’s knockout ties, scheduled for Friday.
Africa Netball Cup Results on Tuesday, 10 December, 2024
Pool 2 Zimbabwe 78 – 27 Eswatini Pool 1 South Africa 65 – 35 Malawi
Results on Monday, 9 December, 2024
Pool 1 Malawi 52 – 39 Zambia Pool 2 Uganda 49 – 50 Zimbabwe Pool 1 Kenya 29 – 74 South Africa Pool 2 Namibia 58 – 47 Eswatini
Spar Proteas Starting 7 vs Malawi
GS Elmeré van der Berg GA Kamogelo Maseko WA Khanyisa Chawane (C) C Refiloe Nketsa WD Jamie van Wyk GD Karla Pretorius GK Nicola Smith
Substitutes
Nicholé Breedt Tarle Mathe Ané Retief Jeanté Strydom Ine-Marí Venter
Head Coach: Jenny van Dyk Assistant Coach: Zanele Mdodana Team Manager: Vinolia Austin Physio: Fikile Phasha
2024 Africa Netball Cup Participating Nations
Pool 1
South Africa Malawi Zambia Kenya
Pool 2
Namibia Uganda Zimbabwe Eswatini
Main Photo Caption: The Spar Proteas cruised to a second win at the 2024 Africa Netball Cup, leading the continental tournament’s Pool 1 as they continue their campaign to regain African honors in Swakopmund, Namibia on Tuesday, 10 December, 2024. All Photos: Netball Africa
Photo 2 Caption: South Africa has now scored 139 goals in their two matches, against 64 conceded, for a huge points difference lead at the top of the Pool 1 log after Day 2.
Photo 3 Caption: The team has their eyes set on reclaiming the continental title at the Africa Netball Cup in the seaside resort town of Swakopmund in Namibia.
