The SPAR Proteas displayed dominance throughout the Africa Netball Cup Tournament, which was held in Namibia between the 9th and 14th of this month. Nine countries competed in the tournament to establish their dominance on the continent and improve their World Netball ranking.
South Africa’s Dominance
South Africa presented a dominant front from day one, winning against Kenya (74-29). The team had most of its players recently play in the Fast5 Tournament, which was an opportunity for the SPAR Proteas to gain great experience while competing against some of the best Netball teams in the world. South Africa beat Malawi (65-35) on day two to give them an upper hand in leading Pool 1. The Proteas sealed their dominance in Pool 1 with a 23-point difference win against Zambia on day three (59-34).
Championship Game
Despite the Uganda She Cranes struggling at the start of the tournament, they managed to secure a win against Malawi with an eight-point lead (51-43) to qualify for the Championship game against the South African power squad. The game was a tough show, with each team having great depth amongst its players and putting up a spectacle for the fans. However, South Africa managed to lead and had no opportunity for the Ugandan She Cranes to catch up, maintaining at least a four-point difference at the end of the first quarter.
The She Cranes dug themselves into a hole in the third quarter, giving the SPAR Proteas a 17-point lead. This built momentum for the South Africans to add fifteen more points in the fourth quarter, winning over the She Cranes by (65-50). It was ultimately a sweet win for the SPAR Proteas, who fell behind Uganda at the recently concluded Fast5 Tournament in New Zealand.
South Africa’s Netball Dominance on the Continent
The SPAR Proteas are currently ranked fifth globally. Since founding the Africa Netball Cup Tournament in 2010, South Africa has won four championships. The growth of women’s netball in South Africa has inspired men’s netball in the country. The sport is one of the most popular women’s games, having a vibrant local league and its national team competing at a continental and global level, such as the Commonwealth Games, Netball Quad Series, Fast5 Netball Series, All African Games, and it holds invitational African tournaments.
Other Awards at the Netball Africa Cup
During the awarding ceremony, top players were recognized for their outstanding performances on the court. South Africa’s Elemeré van der Berg received the best shooter award, and Margret Baagala of Uganda She Cranes was awarded best mid-court centre. Elizabeth Mushore of Zimbabwe Gems won best defender and Khanyisa Chawane of South Africa was awarded player of the tournament.
