Even though the fifth-place overall finish may be bittersweet, South Africa gave an improved version of themselves at the Commonwealth Games. The Spar Proteas displayed gallant performances in Glasgow at the 2026 Commonwealth Games; however, they fell short of their goal of a podium finish.
South Africa’s appearance at the Birmingham Games resulted in a disappointing sixth-place finish and a loss to England in their last pool A match, after leading in the first quarter, set back their ambition for the first medal at the competition. The Proteas ended their tournament with a 62-54 win over Uganda to clinch the fifth spot. The English Roses finished fourth after losing to Australia, while New Zealand walked away with the gold following their victory over Jamaica.
The Proteas only lost two matches in their pool against the Diamonds and the Roses. Coach Jenny van Dyk says although the team is disappointed not to have qualified for the last four, they are pleased that the team was able to bounce back.
“Moving up one position in the Commonwealth Games is still a great improvement, considering that we played four consecutive matches, with the last one with a very limited recovery time. I think the players did fantastic to bounce back after the disappointment of not reaching the semifinals. We are happy about how much resilience they have shown in that process. It was important for us to collect that win. It was something we struggled to do in the past, it shows that the players are very capable,” says van Dyk.
The competition also served as a testing ground for next year’s Netball World Cup in Sydney, Australia. The former Baby Proteas coach says the Commonwealth Games gave the coaching team the opportunity to learn what they can work on ahead of travelling down under.
“We have learnt quite a lot during this tournament. We are looking forward to the World Cup, and we know that the team has shown such a great improvement. The way they played in the matches showed such great bravery and a fearless approach. There is definitely a lot we can take out of that,” she says.
MANY DEBUTANTS
Several players made their Commonwealth Games debuts in Glasgow. Only Khanyisa Chawane, Nicola Smith and Elmere van der Berg had featured in the last Games in Birmingham. Kamogelo Maseko, Tarle Mathe, Owethu Ngubane, Jamie Golob, Karla Victor and Sanmarie Visser all competed in their first Commonwealth Games.
Victor also earned her first senior cap for the Proteas. The Free State Crinums player says her biggest dream has finally come true.
“Representing South Africa has always been one of my biggest dreams, so finally wearing the green and gold for the Proteas was an incredibly proud and emotional moment. It represents years of hard work, sacrifice, and the support of my family, coaches, teammates, and everyone who has been part of my journey. I definitely see this as just the beginning of my journey. Being part of the Proteas environment has given me invaluable experience, challenged me to grow as a player, and motivated me to keep improving every single day.
This experience has also shown me what’s possible, and it has opened my eyes to the opportunities that this journey can bring. One of my goals is to earn a contract in an overseas league, where I can continue to develop my game, learn from some of the best players in the world, and gain even more experience. I’m excited to see where the journey takes me and to keep growing both on and off the court,” explains the midcourter.
Victor was one of the youngest players to debut in the Telkom Netball League. She debuted for the Crinums in 2023 while she was playing high school netball at C&N Sekondêre Meisieskool Oranje. She says playing in the competition has opened her eyes to what it takes to play internationally.
“Playing in my first Commonwealth Games was such an incredible experience and something I will always be grateful for. The Commonwealth Games are such a special tournament because you get to compete against some of the best athletes from different countries on such a big stage.
I don’t take for granted the opportunity to be part of an event like this. I feel very fortunate to have experienced it. I think this tournament has helped me grow not only as a player but also mentally and emotionally. Being around this level of competition and seeing what it takes to perform internationally has motivated me to keep working hard and improving every day. It was an amazing journey, and it is definitely an experience I will always remember,” explains Victor.