Johannesburg will have a shot at notching up a hat-trick of consecutive titles when they face Mangaung in the final of the Spar National Netball Championships hosted by the City of Johannesburg on Saturday. But the opportunity did not come easy.
The team from Potchefstroom, Dr Kenneth Kaunda, came close to pulling off a massive upset, leading the two-time defending champions by five goals after the first quarter of their semifinal clash on Friday, by one goal at halftime and also one at the end of the third period.
But the home side held their nerve, taking the lead for the first time three minutes into the final quarter and doing all the work in the last eight minutes of the match to eventually win 41-34.
Once again, the Dr Kenneth Kaunda team proved to be their own worst enemies. While impressive on defence, they finished with a shooting per centage of just 62 per cent compared to Johannesburg’s 93 per cent, having created 55 scoring opportunities compared to the home side’s 44.
Johannesburg coach and former Spar Proteas captain Dr Elsjé Jordaan admitted afterwards her nerves were shot after the nail-biting victory but said she remained quietly confident her side could pull off the win.
“Funnily enough, I never felt we weren’t in the game. I felt we made unnecessary and unforced errors and that was just due to our own decision-making that wasn’t on par,” she said.
“Then halfway through the second quarter, I could feel the momentum shifted.”
'LOOKING FORWARD TO IT'
As for earning a place in the final, Jordaan added: “It’s a third final for us which is very special. It’s not something that just happens in a championship like this. It means a lot to us as a team so we’re excited. It’s always a privilege to play in a final and we’re looking forward to it.”
Johannesburg captain Didintle Keebine added that the “jitters” had set in at the start, but she was thrilled with how her side had pulled through.
“It was a very tough game. Our start has been a bit shaky but we really pulled through… We fought back, we did great and I’m really proud of my team.”
Later in the day, Mangaung booked their spot in the final with a 50-45 victory over Cape Winelands in their semifinal, meaning the same two teams as last year will face off for the title. Once again, it proved to be a monumental battle, with the Cape side racing to a 5-1 lead at the start and continuing that momentum to lead 26-20 by halftime.
But, just like Johannesburg did in the earlier semifinal, Mangaung clawed their way back into the match with an impressive third quarter. They scored 16 goals to Winelands’ six to take the lead for the first time and held on for the four-goal victory.
'DIG DEEP, FIGHT HARD'
Mangaung coach Martha Mosoahle-Samm said her side had benefited from playing the second semifinal of the day.
“We looked at how Johannesburg struggled against Dr KK and I was sitting there thinking this is what’s going to happen to us as well,” she explained. “I actually spoke to the girls and said: ‘This is how a semifinal looks. You’re going to have to dig deep, come back and fight hard.’”
As for what the plan is to reverse the result of last year’s final where Mangaung finished as runners-up, the former Spar Proteas captain reckoned: “We will be ready for the final tomorrow. I think we don’t want to lose it for the second time. Last year it was so close but yet so far… we are in this and we want it so badly.”
Mangaung captain, Xandri Fourie, added: “We’re not going to repeat what happened last year when we were 7-1 behind. I think we should start with a bang and shake everyone with good netball and the tight final that everyone wants.”
In the under-21 tournament, defending champions Tshwane defeated Dr Kenneth Kaunda 48-36 to book a place in Saturday’s final which will be a Jukskei derby against Johannesburg after the hosts defeated Cape Town 38-30 in their semifinal.
Tickets for the games will be available online at shop@netball-sa.org.za as well as at the venue for R30. Safe and secure parking will be available at Ellis Park Swimming Pool for R10 per car.
RESULTS OF THE SENIOR
DAY 5: Results
Senior A
Semifinal 1: Johannesburg A bt DR Kenneth Kaunda A 41-34
Semifinal 2: Mangaung bt Cape Winelands A 50-45
U21 A
Semifinal 1: Johannesburg A bt Cape Town A 38-30
Semifinal 2: Tshwane A bt Dr Kenneth Kaunda 48-26
7 DECEMBER 2024 FIXTURES
Senior A Section Final:
11h00 - Johannesburg A v Mangaung A
U21 A Section Final:
09h30 - Johannesburg A v Tshwane A