SA Netball dominates Africa Netball Cup

The sheer brilliance of South Africa's Netball teams has been on display at the 2024 Africa Netball Cup, being hosted at the MTC Dome in Swakopmund.

While the men's team booked their place in the final with a dominant 46-30 win over Kenya, the SPAR Proteas advanced to the semifinals following a convincing 71-48 victory against defending champions Zambia. By defeating Kenya, the men's team, who are the defending champions, also extended their winning streak to six games.

‘WE'RE READY FOR THE FINAL’

South Africa's coach, Jabulani Vilane, explained that the Kenya match was an opportunity to rest key players and give younger talent a chance to shine. “We had to rest others for the Kenya game and allow the young ones to grow,” he said. “We are looking forward to the final against Eswatini; they will come out guns blazing, but I trust the boys will fight until the end.”

The South African men's team showcased their dominance throughout the match against Kenya. A strong opening quarter, which SA won 17-5, set the tone, with the team demonstrating impressive speed and accuracy in their passing game.

The team extended its lead to 29-16 in the second quarter through some clinical shooting. SA maintained control of the game's tempo and pulled away in the third quarter, scoring 36-22 to secure the victory comfortably. After the game, the men’s team captain, Sicelo Gamede, shared his thoughts. He insisted that he was happy that the team remained undefeated.

"It wasn’t easy. It was a hard one and now we are preparing for the final. Luckily, we have a day to rest. We have fresh legs, so we stand a good chance of winning the final, but we have to respect our opponent.”

SPAR PROTEAS DOMINATE ZAMBIA

On the other hand, the SPAR Proteas quickly established a strong foundation in the first quarter, sealing the quarter at 15-9. They used swift ball movement and accurate shooting to gain an early advantage.

In the second quarter, the Proteas continued to exert pressure, showcasing their defensive prowess and clinical finishing in the circle to take a 32-22 lead at halftime. The Proteas maintained their dominance, demonstrating their superior fitness and tactical acumen to win the third quarter 52-34 and eventually sealed victory by a considerable margin of 23 goals.

PRETTY EXCITED FOR THE SEMIS

SPAR Proteas coach Jenny Van Dyk acknowledged that Zambia's strong performance disrupted their team's usual rhythm.

"It was an interesting match day for us. This team [Zambia] has scored the most against us, and they play a very difficult style of netball. They pull you into their rhythm and slow down the game just enough for you to lose your speed. But we managed to win all the quarters and are pretty excited for the semis.”

The coach's remarks come after the SPAR Proteas secured their third consecutive victory, solidifying their position as a top contender for the title. SPAR Proteas captain Khanyisa Chawane admitted that the Zambia game was a big test for them.

"It was one of the most important games because it was the game before the semifinal. This game highlighted areas for improvement, such as our need to be more clinical on attack and reduce our error count. We've learned valuable lessons from these past games and we're ready for the tough competition in the semifinals."

The men's team will now prepare for the final, which will be played on Saturday against Eswatini at 12:00 p.m. Meanwhile, the SPAR Proteas will look to continue their winning momentum in the semifinals. They will take on Zimbabwe in the first semifinal clash on Friday at 12:00 p.m.

THURSDAY, 12 DECEMBER 2024 – SOUTH AFRICA RESULTS:

South Africa v Zambia (Women)

Q1: 15-8

Q2: 32-22

Q3: 52-34

Q4: 71-48

South Africa v Kenya (Men)

Q1: 17 - 5

Q2: 29 - 16

Q3: 36 - 22

Q4: 46 - 30

FRIDAY, 13 DECEMBER 2024 – SOUTH AFRICA FIXTURES: