The SPAR Proteas will wrap up the year with one final challenge as they head to Lilongwe, Malawi on Friday to defend their continental title at the Africa Netball Cup.
The tournament gets underway on Monday, 8 December and runs until Sunday, 14 December, with the South Africans grouped with Tanzania, Malawi and Botswana.
Speaking at the SPAR National Netball Championships in Boksburg ahead of the team’s departure, head coach Jenny van Dyk stressed the importance of playing against African sides in the build-up to next year’s Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
“It’s such a privilege to be able to go to the Africa Cup again. It’s a really important competition for us as the SPAR Proteas,” she said.
“At the previous Commonwealth Games and the previous World Cup, the reminder is there that we lost both those fifth and sixth playoffs against Uganda, which placed us sixth in those competitions.
“So even though we are ranked fifth [in the world], for us that’s why playing Africa and all the different African styles, which are very different per team, is important for us to understand and to prepare ourselves for those contests as well,” added Van Dyk.
The SPAR Proteas’ toughest test in the pool stage is likely to come from world No 8 Malawi.
“For us, the more strong teams we play, the better for us. We played Malawi on quite a few occasions last year. I think we played them five or six times. And in that process, Malawi really improved from the first match all the way to the last match, where we could only beat them by a three-goal margin.
“So it’s an important one for us to see where we are at the moment and what progress we have made as a team.”
SPAR Proteas captain Khanyisa Chawane said there is plenty of excitement in the camp with players eager to return to winning ways after going down in their recent series against New Zealand and Australia.
“We’re definitely ready. Coming back from the series that we had, of course, a lot of disappointment, but everyone was able to snap out of that and get excited to play for the Africa Cup… and obviously looking forward to defending our title,” said Chawane, also stressing the importance of gaining experience against African sides.
“As a team, we’re literally focusing on ourselves and making sure that we’re building… because we also need this tournament to prepare for the future. We are in a journey to prepare for those Commonwealth Games, and this tournament is very important for us.”
Van Dyk explained that few changes have been made to the squad that played in New Zealand and Australia, although only 12 players will travel to Malawi instead of 15. She noted that the wing attack and goalkeeper positions are priority areas for building greater depth and confirmed that Juanita van Tonder and Kyla Dames will be given opportunities in those roles.
Meanwhile, also heading to Malawi determined to defend their Africa Netball title next week are the South African men’s netball team.
Meanwhile, also heading to Malawi determined to defend their Africa Netball title next week are the South African men’s netball team.
SPAR Proteas women’s team for Africa Netball Cup:
Khanyisa Chawane (c), Kyla Dames, Kamogelo Maseko, Tarle Mathe, Owethu Ngubane, Refiloe Nketsa, Rolene Streutker, Elmeré van der Berg, Nicola Smith, Juanita van Tonder, Jamie van Wyk, Sanmarie Visser.
Non-travelling reserves: Nicholé Breedt, Entle Futshane, Nozipho Ntshangase.
Proteas men’s team for Africa Netball Cup:
Sicelo Gamede, Shane Labuschagne, Lutendo Maiwashe, Edward Manyathela, Njabulo Nekhavhambe, Romeo Nqcaku, Lwazi Nzama, Gavin Peters, Eugene Sinxezi, Kwandile Sithole, Sibongakonke Vava, Vukile Zulu
Non-travelling reserves: Wandile Gumede, Juan van den Heever, Sandiso Zulu