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Proteas make history as five-time Africa netball champions

rugby15 December 2025 06:46
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SPAR Proteas © Africa Netball

SPAR Proteas head coach Jenny van Dyk and her charges retained their status as African Champions with a 56-34 win over continental rivals Uganda on Sunday in Lilongwe, Malawi. 

South Africa have a set a record as five-time champions of the continental showpiece.

The SPAR Proteas locked horns with Uganda in the final match of the 2025 Africa Netball Cup as they were on a quest to defend their title.

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South Africa came into this match beaming with pride and confidence as they were yet to taste defeat in this tournament.

South Africa were on a mission to win the tournament for the record fifth time, were the first ones to get off the mark quicker and commanded the pace of the game.

Coach Van Dyk started with a slightly different combination from the one that started their semifinal match against Zimbabwe.

A notable omission of the day in the line-up was that of Captain Khanyisa Chawane, Elmere van der Berg captained the team in her absence.

The Proteas continued to exert pressure on their counterparts and at the end of the first quarter, it was South Africa who led 16-7.

With no change to the starting seven after first quarter, the Proteas continued where they left off at 15 minutes – they piled the pressure on Uganda as they marched towards the finish line.

South Africa’s defence was very disciplined as they allowed Uganda to only score nine goals while conceding 11.

At the end of the first half, it was theProteas who led 27-16.

With Refiloe Nketsa already on a caution, coach Van Dyk moved quickly to save her and brought Sanmarie Visser in Goal Defence while moving Jamie van Wyk to Wing Defence to replace Nketsa.

The Proteas took the championship quarter 17-10 to take the overall score to 44-26.

South Africa’s tactical discipline throughout the game carried them and delivered a championship trophy – at the end of the hour, it was the Proteas who came out on tops and won the match 56-34 to be crowned the Champions of Africa for a record breaking fifth time.

“Uganda will make you work the day on that netball court; we knew that we needed to have a very solid game plan and come in very strong. From the onset, we understood that this game would be won in the circle, we needed to figure out how we were going to do that. I must thank Uganda for a great game of netball and for such a great final, well done to them as well for playing the way they did. As a team, we have our own set target and that is to score 60, we fell short today, but what matters is that we are champions,” said a delighted Van Dyk.

Meanwhile, earlier on the day, the South Africa Male team also retained their title as African Champions after beating Zimbabwe 40-29.

Coach Jabulani Vilane made light of their assignment as they clinched the title for the second time in three years.

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